Brazilian frontman Leo Bonatini has joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a loan spell from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
The 23 year old came through the youth ranks with Cruzeiro and took in loan spells with Goias in Brazil, as well as time at Juventus where he was in their youth set up. Following a loan spell with Portuguese side Estoril in 2014/15, he made his breakthrough, joining them on a permanent deal.
53 appearances and 24 goals later he moved to Al-Hilal and with 15 goals in 33 appearances last season for them, he more than played his part in helping them to become Saudi Arabian champions and the Kings Cup of Champions winners.
Having been capped by Brazil at Under 17 level, scoring twice in the Under 17 World Cup Finals in 2011, he moves to the Molinuex on a season long loan deal.
He’s clearly not shy, speaking to the Official Website after penning his deal, Bonatini was targeting history and promotion to the Premier League.
‘It is a dream for me to play here and to live here – it is an amazing country. I have played in other countries already and the experience I had in Saudi Arabia was very good. The staff here are already trying to help me with everything and I am sure it will go well. It is a new change and all the time you feel you have the butterflies in the stomach – that is normal.’
He went on to add.
‘Then when you go inside the pitch for the first time it is normal again and then I will feel very happy to have a big opportunity. It is a big club and is also famous in Brazil, and I am very excited to play here. It is a dream to play in the Championship but even more in the Premier League and we can put our names in the history of this club if we achieve it.’
Building on his Premier League dream, he continued.
‘When you come to a new club all the time you always want to put your name in the history. I am not here to be more than anyone else – I am here to be a part of it with my team-mates and at the end of this season hopefully we are in the first league.’
Talking about his experience of the club so far, he’d been very impressed with everything he’d seen when it came to the facilities and the like.
‘I am very happy to be here. I was very impressed with everything, the history to the club, my team-mates, and I hope it will be a very good season for all of us. The training ground is amazing and I know the stadium is very nice. I hope to be happy here, score many goals, and help us have a very good season. The Championship is a very good league and I am looking forward to the project here. Big players have come here because of the project and we want to go to the Premier League, although we know how hard that will be. If we work hard and trust in the club and the coach we can support each other and do well.’
Maybe showing an indication of his character, his answer to the question of what goalscoring target had he set himself for his first year in our second tier was quite refreshing actually.
‘No, I don`t do this. I don`t like to put limits on myself. If I say now that I want to score ‘x` number then when I get there people might think I will relax. I prefer to work day by day, step by step. It is a high level here so I want to work as hard as I can and to learn. What I will do is fight all the way and do my best all the time. I work every day to be better and to help everyone. When I go inside the pitch I will to play hard and play well. We will all work together and then hopefully in the next season, we will be in the first league.’
