Helder Costa was highly rated coming through the youth system at Benfica and had been expected by many to go on to become a star for the club’s first team.
Loans to Deportivo La Coruna, AS Monaco and Wolves had an increasing degree of success and then Costa completed a permanent transfer to the then Championship club.
It was one of the earlier Wolves Portuguese deals and brought raised eyebrows, but with Costa now in the national squad at the age of 24, and a regular for Nuno Espirito Santo in the Premier League, things are looking good.
Away with the national squad for the first time, Costa has been speaking to his country’s media and was asked about leaving Benfica for the second tier in England.
Quoted by O Jogo, the footballer explained: “In youth training we know that not everyone will arrive to the main teams. In my case I could not, I had to do what was right for my life. I hope it stays that way.”
Explaining how being called up by Portugal is a ‘dream come true’ and vowing to ‘work hard’ to impress during the current international break, Costa added: “It’s a dream. I will work to the maximum to be able to play and help the Seleção “
The route to the big time via Wolves is paying off for another player.
