Wolves are not worried about Sporting Lisbon’s colossal demands of £48.5 million for goalkeeper Rui Patricio, according to Sky Sports.
The news broadcaster reports on their website that the Midlands-based outfit are unconcerned over Sporting’s demands for their former keeper, who opted to terminate his contract at the club amid fan disputes.
The Liga NOS club are asking FIFA that newly-promoted Wolves be banned from all transfer activity for the duration of two windows, as well as banning Patricio from playing for six months, in what are stunning demands following the goalkeeper’s move to England.
The Portugal international joined Wolves on a four-year contract in June, joining on a free transfer.
OPINION
Despite Sporting Lisbon’s ludicrous demands for the Portuguese shot-stopper, it looks as though Wolves are holding firm and not cracking under the pressure. They should be unconcerned, as they were willing to pay £18 million for Patricio before the termination of his contract, which of course is not their fault. The fact that Sporting are proposing that FIFA impose a transfer ban on Wolves as well as a playing ban on Patricio indicates just how bitter they are that one of their star players left. Wolves just took advantage of Patricio’s situation in Portugal, which is what any club would have done in their position if they were pursuing a top-class player. Wolves are behaving in the correct manner with Sporting, but it does remain to be seen whether these demands will actually be fulfilled, or whether they will be dismissed. Nevertheless, the lump sum of £48.5 million is a vast amount of money to a newly-promoted club like Wolves, so fingers crossed on the midlands side’s behalf that FIFA do not implement these demands.