When you consider Vitinha didn’t set the world alight during his time on loan at Wolves, reports suggesting the Porto-owned playmaker could be reunited with Nuno Espirito Santo at Tottenham Hotspur certainly came as a surprise.
Vitinha started just five Premier League games during his time at Molineux, mustering fewer minutes on the pitch than Donny van de Beek managed at Manchester United.
But don’t make the mistake of assuming Nuno wasn’t a fan, unconvinced by the talents of a man who struggled to force his way into a one-paced engine room.
Perhaps Nuno simply felt the Portugal U21 international needed time to adapt to life in England. Patience is a virtue when it comes to an unproven youngster snapped up from the European mainland after all.
With Wolverhampton Wanderers deciding against triggering the £18 million option-to-buy clause in Vitinha’s contract following Nuno’s departure, however, we may never find out whether the fleet-footed attacker was capable of strutting his stuff in Old Gold, week in, week out.
Then again, with Mercado Azul reporting Vitinha could be reunited with his former boss at Tottenham – agent Jorge Mendes has offered Spurs a chance to sign the Algarve native for almost £20 million – a potential reunion between player and coach, albeit at a new club, may come as a godsend.
Will Vitinha and Nuno be reunited at Tottenham?
Nuno always supported Vitinha in the face of criticism, insisting after the youngster opened his account with a long-range wonder goal in the FA Cup against Chorley it would take him time to get up to speed on English soil.
The pace of the Premier League has taken more experienced players than him by surprise after all and what Vitinha lacks in physicality he more than makes up for in technical ability.
“We are pleased with Vitor. He’s a young player – but full of talent and quality,” Nuno said in March, via Shropshire Live.
“He has a lot of things to improve in his game in terms of physicality and duels – the aspects that normally require a time of adaptation. But the talent is there. He’s a good option who, in the right moments, can be helpful.
“He scored a fantastic goal (against Chorley), and he gave us so much in the game besides his goal. The way he worked, he kept the ball and his composure was really good to see.”
Another season of Premier League football – under a coach who knows his strengths, weaknesses and what’s required to realise that undoubted potential – could be the making of Vitinha.
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