Vitor Pereira drops biggest hint yet at Wolves captain decision as Old Gold suffer pre-season defeat

Wolves have played their first match of the 2025/26 calendar, losing 2-1 in a training game against CD Santa Clara.

Wolves were defeated by the Portuguese side in a contest behind closed doors that lasted 35 minutes each half.

Vitor Pereira and his squad are working hard in the Algarve in preparation for the Premier League season, which begins on August 16th with Wolves hosting Manchester City. Pre-season will be a learning curve for Pereira, who will have the opportunity to evaluate his squad away from competitive action for the first time, beginning against Santa Clara.

Vitor Pereira hints at Wolves captaincy decision

The match produced numerous talking points, the most notable of which was Sasa Kalajdzic’s goal.

The Austrian will be overjoyed after having so much of his career ruined by injuries, but the striker isn’t the only topic of conversation. According to Wolves’ official website, Pereira chose who would lead the two squads that played in either half. Toti Gomes took the armband in the first half, shocking Emmanuel Agbadou and Joao Gomes with his performance.

Then, in the second half, when the squad was rotated, Matt Doherty took the armband. Wolves fans have debated who they want to captain, with Toti, Agbadou, and Gomes as potential contenders. Toti and Doherty were chosen as the leaders versus Santa Clara in Nelson Semedo’s absence, so Pereira’s decision could come shortly.

Semedo is yet to decide on his future after becoming a free agent, leaving Wolves’ leadership unfilled for the moment.

Who played in Wolves’ friendly against Santa Clara?

Aside from Pereira’s captaincy selection, the match had several other interesting aspects. The two squads that competed in the match are listed below, and they featured a variety of talent, including new signing Fer Lopez and other academy stars.

First half squad: Bentley, Hoever, Pond, Agbadou, Toti, Lima, Andre, J Gomes, Guedes, Chirewa, Kalajdzic

Second half squad: King, Mane, Pond, S Bueno, Doherty, Lopes, Bellegarde, Munetsi, Hwang, Lopez, Strand Larsen

Returning loanee Ki-Jana Hoever appeared, as did academy aspirants Alfie Pond, Mateus Mane, Tawanda Chirewa, and Leo Lopes. The Old Gold will face Stoke City in their first official pre-season fixture on July 26th.