‘Next season he’ll be with us’ – Vitor Pereira confirms Wolves squad to be joined by ‘special’ talent
With 2025–2026 slated as a breakthrough season, Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira has indicated that recent debutant Mateus Mane will formally join the first squad from the beginning of preseason.
Mane made his Premier League debut as a late substitute at the conclusion of Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, saving a few valuable minutes. The Molineux supporters, who had been waiting impatiently for Mane’s bow after multiple calls up to the Wolves bench, gave the 17-year-old a standing ovation as he replaced exhausted defensive midfielder Andre.
Prior to this encounter against Brighton, Mane has been included in a Premier League matchday squad four times, including once on February 25 at home against Fulham and once each time against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Even though the adolescent hasn’t been given any minutes yet, it’s been a fantastic opportunity for him to gain first-team experience.
Mane didn’t have much of an opportunity to make an impression because his appearance against Brighton was so brief. However, he won one defensive aerial duel and still managed to complete four passes and have six touches. In truth, it wouldn’t have really mattered if Mane didn’t touch the ball, since the experience of coming on for his first Premier League minutes would’ve been more than sufficient.
“I’m sure that he will be a surprise in England, in this league, because he’s a player with talent,” Pereira said, adding, “for sure, next season he’ll be in the first-team squad with us. He’s not only a talent, he’s a worker, and for me, in that moment of the game, it was not just to give him the minutes.
It was because I thought he could do something. He’s special.” Pereira has acknowledged that he didn’t just bring Mane on for the experience, but because he sought some attacking impetus late in the game, with Andre exhausted and nothing to lose with Wolves 2-0 behind.
Many young players will never have experienced the intensity of the Premier League before, but according to Pereira, age is just a number. In the event that a player possesses talent, the Wolves head coach will use them regardless of their age. Pereira said, “I don’t care,” in response to the question of whether he is concerned about Mane’s age.
After experiencing Premier League football for the first time, young Mane will be thrilled to hear these remarks and eager to gain more senior playing time. Mane has made 20 appearances for Wolves at the youth level, scoring eight goals and dishing out five assists. He is mostly a center-forward but can also play on the right side or as an attacking midfielder.
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