Joao Gomes was supposed to be in Madrid by now. Instead, the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder finds himself at the center of a Premier League tug-of-war, with Manchester United and Liverpool both reaching out after his £39 million move to Atletico Madrid fell apart.
The 25-year-old Brazilian international, who joined Wolves from Flamengo and quickly became one of the club’s most indispensable players, is under contract through 2030, which means Wolves hold all the leverage.
How the Atletico deal unraveled
Reports earlier this year indicated that Atletico Madrid and Wolves had reached a preliminary agreement around £39 million, roughly €45 million, for Gomes. The fee was widely considered reasonable for a midfielder of his caliber, particularly one whose combative, high-energy style seemed tailor-made for Diego Simeone’s system.
Both Manchester United and Liverpool moved quickly once the Madrid deal fell through, contacting Gomes and his camp to gauge his interest in staying in England rather than heading to La Liga. Napoli has also expressed interest, and Crystal Palace were reportedly sniffing around earlier this spring.
