Portugal are outside contenders to win Euro 2024 this summer – and their manager Roberto Martinez is said to be a huge fan of one of Wolves’ players.
Wolves have long been associated with having players from Portugal, having had a close relationship with the super agent Jorge Mendes since the club came back into the Premier League.
He facilitated several transfer deals to take players to Molineux, with varying degrees of success.
These days, there is not as much reliance on Mendes, with the club exploring other avenues to sign players. The South American market has served Wolves well, with Joao Gomes looking like he will become a top player.
But there remains a strong Portuguese contingent at Molineux, and there is a chance we will be seeing some of them this summer at Euro 2024.
And one who is seemingly likely to make the final cut is Toti Gomes…
Liam Keen claims he knows ‘for a fact’ Roberto Martinez is a very big of Wolves defender Toti Gomes
Toti Gomes has been a real success story this season at Wolves, having initially started the campaign as a benchwarmer.
After a tricky start to the season, Gary O’Neil decided to change things up when Manchester City came to Molineux at the end of September, reintroducing the back three system with wing-backs.
£900,000 signing Toti was brought in to make a three with Max Kilman and Craig Dawson, and it proved a very successful decision. Wolves beat City 2-1, and Toti played brilliantly.
The 25-year-old kept his place in the side and has pretty much been ever-present since that game and up to now, he has made 39 appearances for the club this term.
O’Neil isn’t the only one who really likes him. Journalist Liam Keen spoke about the star on the latest E&S podcast – and it sounds like he is really highly thought of at international level too.
He said: “He was about £900,000 to £1 million wasn’t he? Now he’s a Portuguese international, I’d be gobsmacked if he doesn’t go to the Euros. I know for a fact that Roberto Martinez likes him a lot. Obviously he gave him his debut and played him recently. I would be very surprised if he doesn’t go there. He’s easily a £25 million defender.”
Toti going to the Euros would be so deserved
From what Keen has said here it sounds like they is a very decent chance that Toti will make Portugal’s final squad for Euro 2024 – and that really would be amazing.
Martinez gave Toti his debut in the game against Liechtenstein back in November, and Toti then got his second cap against Sweden in March.
He may have only just got his foot in the door, but Martinez appears to like what he sees – and why wouldn’t he?
Toti – who was rewarded for his fine form with a new contract back in February – is capable of playing on the left side of a defence, either centrally or as a left-back, and he very rarely has a poor game. The former Estoril man has great athleticism, and is both solid in the tackle and strong in the air. His ball-playing could improve, but overall it isn’t too bad
Keen suggests Toti’s valuation could be around £25 million these days and that does not feel too outrageous at all for such a dependable and committed Premier League defender.
