Fernando Marcal helped Lyon reach the semifinals of the Champions League last season (Getty Images)
According to Daily Mail, Wolves have completed the signing of Lyon star Fernando Marcal ahead of the new campaign.
The report suggests that the Brazilian has joined on a two-year deal from the French outfit, becoming the second summer signing for Wolves. He has joined Portuguese youngster Fabio Silva at Molineux and could be available for the club’s opening day fixture away to Sheffield United. (h/t Daily Mail)
Born in Brazil, Marcal flourished through the ranks of Gremio’s youth system and joined Portuguese lower league side Torreense before joining CD Nacional, where he made 110 appearances in three years.
He then joined Benfica on a free transfer in 2015. But, he spent the next two seasons on loan spells in Turkey and France before joining Lyon in the summer of 2017 on a permanent basis.
Though he was not a regular starter for the French giants, he made 75 appearances in the last three seasons. He was instrumental in taking Lyon to the Champions League semifinals last season, featuring in 7 of their 10 UCL matches.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have been brilliant in the last two seasons since their promotion to the top flight. They managed to reach the quarterfinals of the Europa League last season.
Jonny Castro picked up an injury in the Europa League mini-tournament last month and is set to be on the sidelines for nine months, as per Express and Star. And with his unavailability, young Ruben Vinagre was the only option at left-back.
Thus, Wolves have taken the right decision by bringing in Marcal this summer. The Brazilian was impressive towards the end of the last season, featuring constantly as Lyon made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Moreover, he has made nearly 250 career appearances and his Champions League experience would be a massive boost to the squad.
The 31-year-old is a left-back by trade but he is also adept at the centre-back role. He featured for Lyon in a three-man central defence, which is exactly the formation Nuno’s Wolves play with. His inclusion will provide the Midlands club with depth in multiple positions. And his experience can help them challenge for a higher place finish in the league standings.
With Otto injured and Vinagre too young to be depended upon week in and week out, landing the Brazilian was a smart decision by the Black County outfit. Marcal can provide them with some much-needed quality at the back and can be a crucial player for Wolves if he is able to continue with the fine form that he showed for Lyon.
