Champions League semi-finalist Marçal joins Wolves

Wolves have secured their second signing in two days with Brazilian Marçal joining the club from Olympique Lyonnais.

The 31-year-old left-back, who helped Lyon reach last season’s Champions League semi-final, has signed a two-year deal at Molineux.

Growing up in Sao Paulo, Marçal was a product of the Gremio academy system, which is responsible for bringing through some of the biggest names in Brazilian football, such as Ronaldinho and Emerson.

After breaking through as a professional, Marçal spent time with hometown club Guaratungueta before making his first move to Europe, signing for SCU Torreense, making 40 appearances in the Portuguese Second Division where he scored three goals.

But it was with Madeira-based club Nacional where the Brazilian made his name, amassing more than 110 outings in the Primeira Liga, mainly at left-back, as he helped the club to four successive top-half finishes in Portugal’s top-flight, as well as a Europa League appearance and two runs to the Taca de Portugal semi-finals.

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His performances at the back for Nacional alerted interest from league champions Benfica, who subsequently sent Marcal on loan to Turkish outfit Gaziantepspor and Ligue 1’s Guingamp, with his form at the latter earning him a permanent move to fellow French side Lyon.

Marçal had been a regular in Les Gones’ backline since arriving in 2017, making 75 appearances over the past three years, and featuring in a Europa League campaign – which saw Lyon reach the last 16 – in his first season at the club, as well as two Champions League runs, with the second concluding just last month.

The defender was part of the Lyon team which came second in a group containing Red Bull Leipzig, Zenit St Petersburg and former club Benfica, before he played the full 90 minutes in both legs of the last 16 victory against Juventus, as well as the quarter-final win over Manchester City. Marçal also started the semi-final, but the side’s Champions League jaunt ended in defeat to eventual champions Bayern Munich.

Marçal will report for testing on Monday, a week before Nuno Espirito Santo’s men get their Premier League season underway at Sheffield United.

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