Fer Lopez, who signed for Wolves from Celta Vigo for £19.5m, spoke to Sky Sports about his new team, replacing Matheus Cunha and his relationship with Jorgen Strand Larsen; watch Wolves v Manchester City live on Sky Sports from 5pm on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm.
Pictured: Fer Lopez could make his debut for Wolverhampton in the official match against Manchester City.
Fer Lopez's eyes light up at the prospect of making his Wolves debut against Manchester City live on Sky Sports on Saturday. “Especially at home, in front of our fans,” he says with a smile.
The first game of the season against Pep Guardiola's side may seem daunting for a young player making his first Premier League appearance. However, Lopez showed no signs of anxiety in the interview room at Wolves' training ground, confidently answering questions in English, already feeling comfortable in his new surroundings.
“It's really exciting,” he adds. “City are one of the strongest teams in the world and they have one of the best managers in Guardiola. My main goal is to do everything I can to help the team win.”
The striker joined Wolves with just seven starts under his belt. His breakthrough at boyhood club Celta Vigo came later than expected due to his rapid rise. However, he started two games for Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid last season, and also played against Barcelona. “I like big games,” he says.
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He clearly lacks self-confidence. Crucially, he has plenty of talent. Vitor Pereira has already noted that Lopez could play for “one of the best clubs in England.” The Wolverhampton manager has enthusiastically spoken of “a left foot that can bring the magic that is needed.”
It all helps to explain why Wolves were prepared to invest £19.5m in his move to Molineux. Lopez found it difficult to leave Celta but the club's hierarchy are impressed with how quickly he has adapted.
“Of course it’s a big change to come here on my own, to a different country, a different culture, but so far all the staff and my teammates have treated me very well,” he says. “Now I feel at home here. It’s only been a month since I arrived, but I feel great.”
He was also fortunate to already have some experience of the game in England. At 14, Lopez spent three months on a school exchange programme in Suffolk, where he trained with Norwich's academy and with non-league side Becton United of 1989. There, he became known for his incredible skill, outplaying players twice his age.
At Celta, Lopez was seen as the heir to Iago Aspas' club. The former Liverpool player even mentored him. “I always tried to learn from him since I was a kid,” Lopez says. “He taught me a lot, showed me how to choose the right position, what to do in a difficult game – everything you need to know from the inside.”
There is an element of continuity in his move to Wolves, given that he arrives after Matheus Cunha left for Manchester United. Lopez plays for the opposite team, but is one of the players now tasked with restoring the attacking potential in his absence.
“I think football is fun,” he says. “I like to think of it that way. I like players who make me get up and I try to
Sourse: skysports.com
