Rui Patricio Wolves
Jose Sa has revealed he consulted with Rui Patricio before agreeing to join Wolverhampton Wanderers from Olympiakos. Portuguese goalkeeper Sa was signed by Wolves to replace his more experienced compatriot, who has linked up with Jose Mourinho at Italian club Roma. Wolves raked in £10million for Patricio – who was among the club’s biggest earners – and managed to snare Sa for just £7million. After completing a brief period of isolation Sa linked up with his new teammates at Compton on Tuesday before letting out to Marbella for the club’s pre-season training camp. Patricio might have left but Sa has been greeted by no fewer than seven Portuguese players in Wolves’ first team.
Jose Sa said: “It’s good because I already knew most of them. It’s always good to have other players that we already know, so it’s been very good. Before I signed, I spoke with Ruben (Neves) and Rui Patricio. I asked him (Rui) how life was here and how the club is. We talked a little bit. He wished me lots of luck and I also wished him good luck.”
Sa has been handed Wolves’ number one shirt which has not been worn since Carl Ikeme announced his retirement in 2018 following his battle with leukaemia. He was Bruno Lage’s first choice to replace Patricio, with the Wolves head coach aware of Sa from his time working in Benfica’s academy.
Jose Sa added: “I already knew him from Benfica times. We never worked together in the Benfica academy, despite the fact we were there at the same time. But from what I have already experienced, he’s a very good coach, with good ideas and we are excited to start the new season and start getting results.”
