Liverpool moved nearer to the Premier League title, Nottingham Forest gave their Champions League hopes an enormous increase and Cole Palmer’s excellent penalty file got here to an finish over the weekend.
Our standout participant from the motion is…
André (Wolves)
When Wolves hosted Everton on Saturday night time, there was concern among the many residence help about how they’d cope with out their Brazilian talisman.
However with Matheus Cunha serving the primary recreation of his suspension, it was one other Seleçao star who stepped up in his absence and grabbed a number of the limelight for himself with an impressive efficiency.
That man was midfielder André, who’s now actually exhibiting his qualities after an preliminary adaptation interval following his arrival late final summer time from Fluminense in a deal value a reported £18.5m earlier than add-ons.
His skills had been by no means unsure, provided that the 23-year-old had already acquired 5 Brazil caps and gained the Copa Libertadores and after settling in, the Molineux devoted are actually seeing the very best of him.
Within the 1-1 draw with Everton, he accomplished 72 of 74 passes with no participant who began for both aspect having fun with a extra profitable share, whereas additionally successful extra duels (9) than some other man within the outdated gold.
There are few central midfielders within the division as calm below stress when receiving the ball and he displayed all of that brilliance as soon as extra and when he did use the ball, broke out his full vary of passing excellence.
His tigerish pursuit of possession when Everton had the ball additionally resulted in him setting a Premier League file this season.
His lack of minutes, even in an adjustment interval, below Gary O’Neil appears all of the extra baffling.
André has been a person reborn below Vitor Pereira and a powerful case might be made that he has been their most essential participant below the brand new coach – as evidenced by his exhibiting towards Everton.
It’s subsequently no shock to see him referred to as up for his nation for March’s internationals – no imply feat given the standard of competitors in that space.
However along with his means to cowl each blade of grass and high quality with and with out the ball, it’s nicely deserved for a person who’s the archetype of the fashionable midfielder.
Cunha now has severe competitors for Brazilian cult hero within the midlands.
📸 Naomi Baker – 2025 Getty Photographs