Leo Bonatini living the dream with Wolves
Wolves’ striker search could go the distance this week, with several targets having been looked at – and missed – this summer.
However, one man already in their ranks is hoping that whatever happens in the coming days he’ll be the man to fire Wolves to the Premier League.
Leo Bonatini has made an impressive start to life at Molineux, notching twice in four league games.
Given he’s a Brazilian who has arrived from Saudi Arabia, Bonatini could be excused for taking a while to adapt to the English game.
And while he admits it’s been tough going, he’s pleased with his start to life in England.
“For me it’s a dream to play in English football,” he said. “The difference between games here and in Saudi Arabia – the pitch is more fast and we play with one, two touch.
“Most of the time the defenders are very strong and it’s difficult.
“I’m improving now, it’s a lot of games and we don’t have a lot of training sessions.
“It’s different. When we play Saturday we only have two days to recover and spend a lot of time away from home.
“My father will come to stay with me, my mother will maybe come for Christmas. I’m here to play and don’t look to go out and do everything.
“I’m very happy to live here, it’s very good.
“The style is different, very fast. I went to Italy before and learned a lot about tactics there.
“I want to help the guys when we have to defend also.”
The likeable Bonatini is never far from breaking out into a smile.
The move to Wolves is by far the biggest of his career, offering a chance to put himself in the spotlight with a team that look to be going places, maybe even the Premier League.
Bonatini, though, says he’ll happily sacrifice personal glory if it means Wolves being successful.
“I didn’t expect to arrive and score on my debut,” he said of his impressive start which has included goals against Middlesbrough and Cardiff, both at Molineux. “What’s amazing for me is that we won.
“For sure I would change my goals to win. If I can score and we win, lovely, but for sure I’d take them away for three points against Cardiff.
“It’s a long season, many games, but we’ll keep working.
“More days, more training sessions, more time with my team-mates – it’s good for me and all the group now.
“With more time things are better. We have important games, we’ve done well up to now but we want more.
“We have to keep focused and train hard.”
Bonatini joined Wolves well short of fitness having barely had a proper pre-season. But after five starts in all competitions he’s catching up with his team-mates.
“I’m feeling better now, I just played one game in the pre-season in Saudi Arabia, just 30 minutes,” he added.
“Now I’m feeling better. Antonio (Dias, fitness coach) and the guys are helping me a lot.”
Wolves travel to Brentford today backed by another sell-out away following.
More than 1,500 made the long trip to Southampton in midweek and their two Molineux league attendances have both been higher than 27,000, which was only the case of three occasions last season.
The Brazilian said the support hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“We’ve shown what we want to do,” he said. “No matter where we play or who we’re playing we will play our game, like our coach asks us to do.
“I think the fans, when they’re with us it’s easier.
“When we play at home it’s amazing and also when we play away, we feel the same, because they’re with us.
“With them we are stronger.”
