Today is the tenth anniversary of the erection of the Jorge Mendes statue outside Molineux.
Many years ago, back when humans were still the dominant species, The Portuguese super agent used his considerable connections to turn Wolves from a mid-table Championship team to Premier League juggernauts.
The likes of Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota ensured the club’s promotion to the top flight.
But it was in the summer of 2018 when the game changed forever…
Fitting sponsor
Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez were a stretch too far for the newly promoted Wolves but all of Mendes’ other clients were up for grabs.
Wolves sent a warning message out on the first day of the summer transfer window by announcing the signing of Angel Di Maria.
Frustrated with a lack of game time at PSG, the Argentine leapt at the chance to don the famous orange shirt.
He would go on to exorcise his Premier League demons, being named in Team of the Season in his first campaign back on these shores.
His brace at Old Trafford lives long in the memory…
Speaking of Man United rejects…
Strike partnerships may be all the rage again these days but back in 2018 they were few and far between.
Wolves are partially to blame for the resurgence in popularity of front twos as they’re double signing of Radamel Falcao and Andre Silva proved mightily effective.
El Tigre famously went on to win back-to-back Golden Boots.
A necessary evil
Every team needs a bastard.
Three-time Champions League winner Pepe was brought in as an experienced head in defence.
However, this transfer proved to be ill-advised as the Portuguese centre-back was sent off in every one of his five appearances for Wolves.
He was unceremoniously released the following summer and went on to have a moderately successful career in WWE.
Flair. Pure flair
Remembered as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever impact subs, Ricardo Quaresma remains a cult hero in the Black Country to this day.
The trivelas, the rabonas, the panenkas… what a highlight reel.
This great influx of talent peaked on deadline day when Faouzi Ghoulam, Eliaquim Mangala, Andre Gomes and Renato Sanches all signed for Wolves in flurry of activity that nearly hospitalised Jim White.
You can do your own Scottish accent at this pointSky Sports
The moment Sanches donned a Wolves shirt he reverted to the bullish midfielder who grabbed games by the throat during his Benfica days.
Gomes brought with him lessons learned from his time at Barcelona which helped instil an elite mentality among the squad.
The ‘Mendes Nine’ (as they came to be known) ensured a joyous return to the Premier League for Wolves as they qualified for the Champions League, pipping Spurs to fourth place on the last day of the season.
No need to look too much into it either, definitely all legal…Reuters
What a window, eh?
It’s a real shame Mendes was imprisoned soon after…
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