Wolves’ chances of collecting a sizeable payment for Chiquinho this summer have received some encouragement from Alverca.
The Portuguese club’s director-general Pedro Alves has admitted it will be “very difficult” to keep the winger. That’s significant for Wolves, who retained 40% of Chiquinho’s economic rights when he left Molineux.
Sporting had looked like the obvious route towards triggering that clause earlier this summer. Their interest has cooled recently, but Chiquinho certainly isn’t being treated as someone Alverca expect to keep comfortably.
Speaking to O Jogo, for their Friday printed edition, Alves was surprisingly open about the situation.
“Very difficult” to keep Chiquinho
Chiquinho is among several Alverca players attracting attention, and Alves actually expected some of them to be gone already.
“I even thought I wouldn’t have them for the first game, but honestly it will be very difficult to keep them,” he said.
Alves explained there are financial considerations for Alverca and ambitions on the players’ side.
There’s a limit, though. Alverca aren’t planning to simply accept whatever arrives before the deadline.
“They’re all professionals, they’re under contract and if other clubs don’t meet our demands, they’ll stay,” Alves added.
Previous reports in Portugal have placed Chiquinho’s asking price between €6m (£5.2m) and €10m (£8.7m). And Wolves will have a 40% stake.
Sporting previously made exploratory approaches over a deal. That possibility has since lost momentum, although Alverca remain open to an attractive proposal from elsewhere.
Director points to Wolves injury as career turning point
Pedro Alves knows Chiquinho well, having previously worked with him at Estoril. He explained that bringing the winger to Alverca initially looked unrealistic.
Chiquinho had barely played during the previous season at Mallorca, although that was due to the manager’s choices and not another injury.
Alves eventually convinced him that sometimes a player needs to “take one step backwards to then take two forwards”.
That decision has worked pretty well. The Alverca chief believes Chiquinho can play for any club in Portugal’s top flight, including the biggest sides.
“I have no doubt he’s a different player and that he could fit into any team in the Primeira Liga,” he said.
Alves highlighted his speed, one-on-one ability and “magic”, describing Chiquinho as the type of footballer who brings supporters to stadiums. He also believes things could have turned out very differently at Wolves.
“I’d go as far as saying that, if he hadn’t suffered that ligament rupture at Wolves, he’d be playing at a much higher level today and it would have been impossible to bring him here.”
That injury certainly derailed Chiquinho’s Wolves career. His subsequent move to Alverca has given him the chance to get things moving again. Now his club are openly acknowledging they could struggle to keep him.
For Wolves, the identity of the buyer isn’t particularly important. If someone eventually meets Alverca’s demands, that 40% clause could make Chiquinho’s revival useful to his former club as well.
