Sporting director Matt Hobbs says Toti’s attitude and personality will see him continue to kick on in the game, after the defender signed a new contract at Molineux.
The 25-year-old is enjoying his best season yet at Wolves, securing a regular slot on the left side of Gary O’Neil’s defence, during a year he also earned a senior Portugal debut. Toti was late to the professional game but has now found his home at Molineux and his style is giving O’Neil’s side crucial balance and personality, says Hobbs.
On Toti signing new terms
“Toti came to us after spending time at Grasshoppers, and maybe a bit like Max’s journey, he had to wait for his opportunity, but I think what you get is someone who gives absolutely everything and provides different variation. His athleticism has given us real balance across the back.
“He’s a great guy to have around, a really positive person, driven and a full international now. I say it a lot, because they’re the type of people we want to bring in, but he’s great around the place, while still having a huge amount of humility. Even though he’s an international, he’s not finished, he wants to keep going and become a regular. He wants to be the best player he can be every single day, he trains well, and it’s a well-deserved new contract.”
On his unique story at Wolves
“We tend to do quite well out of people with unconventional routes into professional football. Nothing’s ever linear in life, and even less in football – on the journey you have lots of ups and downs. What’s important is throughout all that you keep the right attitude.
“We scout non-league now and all clubs do, and we’ve shown there’s no snobbery. We’ll look under every stone to see where we can find players. For him, and for all players, we’ve got a squad with several great stories of people who have just gone out and earned it. To get contracts here, people have to earn them with what they do on the pitch and off the pitch, and Toti’s done that for sure.”
On revelling this season
“It really suits him [the system]. It helps playing next to Craig and Max, but also Santi has done well, so as a four they’re really strong and are pushing each other. Santi came in and did well, so the three playing now know they have to keep playing well to keep their spot, then we’re excited to have Yerson back in the summer.
“Gary knows when he puts Toti on the pitch what he’s going to get. He follows instructions really well and wants to learn. Toti has been like a lot of players this season, adapted really well to a new head coach, taking on his ideas, wanting to learn and wanting to get better, and because Gary and his staff are so good on the training pitch, he will. The boys have been fantastic with that and none more than Toti.”
On looking to the future
“He’s not someone who rests on his laurels. He’s not going to back off now, he’ll want to kick on. He’ll want to be a starter for Portugal, so he’s in the door now and it’s up to him to do that, and he knows the best way to do that is putting in great performances with us. He knows he still has lots of things to do, but with his personality, he’ll make sure he keeps striving.
“Probably coming into it late, that hunger probably lasts a bit longer because you’ve not been in it since eight. He’s probably six years behind some of the others in terms of access to football. He’s still excited, full of enthusiasm, and still loving the journey. I’ve got no doubt that he’ll keep improving for sure.”
