Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Leo Bonatini on a season-long loan from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. The Brazilian forward has earned some rave reviews following his prolific performances in the East and is expected to be a season defining signing for the Wolves.
The 23-year-old becomes the 11th signing of Wolves’ new boss Nuno Espirito Santo and comes days before their massive opener against Middlesbrough. The Portuguese boss has also brought in Diego Jota on loan from Atletico Madrid, who plays as a secondary striker and is expected to start the game at Molineux with young Bright Enobakhare.
Wolves had a pretty under average campaign last season with them finishing 15th with 48 points. They had lacked serious attacking edge managing to score only 54 goals in 48 games and now with their star striker Nouha Dicko out with injury, Wolves are likely to face a difficult start.
Apart from Bonatini and Jota, Wolves have seen the arrivals of Rúben Neves, Prince Oniangué, Phil Ofosu-Ayeh, Rúben Vinagre, Barry Douglas, Ryan Bennett, Roderick Miranda, Willy Boly, Will Norris and John Ruddy.
However, all of them are mostly defensive reinforcements and Bonatini can quite surprisingly see himself on the bench against Boro. The Brazilian has scored 15 goals for the Arabian club last season, continuing his form from his previous Portuguese side Estoril, where he had managed 24 goals in 53 appearances.
Speaking to the club, the striker said, “The Championship is a very good league and I am looking forward to the project here. It is a big club and is also famous in Brazil and I am very excited to play here.”
An academy product of Brazilian side Cruzeiro, Bonatini has played for sides like Juventus, Goiás Esporte Clube and GD Estoril Praia on loan before Hilal got him. The former Brazil Under-17 forward is definitely quite swift in his movements and possesses good passing skills making him a good source of assists up front. His proven goal scoring record also makes him an exciting buy by all means.
Given that he has adjusted quite well to Portugal and Saudi Arabia since he left Brazil, it is expected that he would gel in well in England. But the weather is quite extreme here and the rough style of play could cause problems for the striker to find the back of the net despite him being a quality scorer. However, Wolves wouldn’t lose much if he flops given the nature of this deal.
