Mateus Mane hopes making his senior Wolves debut will just be the start of things to come in gold and black as he looks to become a regular member of Vitor Pereira’s Premier League side.
The exciting Wolves Academy forward became the club’s youngest ever Premier League player at the age of 17 years, seven months and 24 days when he came on for the final few minutes of Saturday’s game with Brighton & Hove Albion at Molineux.
But England under-18 international Mane – who was born in Portugal before moving to Manchester as an eight-year-old – is determined to ensure he builds on his Old Gold debut and continues to show Pereira, his teammates and the Wolves supporters just what he is capable of, while making his family proud.
On earning his Premier League debut for Wolves
“It sounds really good and nice to have that down there, being the youngest ever Premier League player for Wolves. It’s really nice to hear.
“It felt good to make my debut because I’ve been on the bench a few times now, but I’ve just been ready every game, ready to come on and play my game, but I finally came on at the weekend, so it was good. It felt good for me, my family, my friends and everything.”
On getting the call from off the bench
“During the game, with how it was going, I didn’t think I was going to come on, but when I saw that Andre had a little knock, I thought it just could be my chance. When the manager called me over, I was ready for it. I was ready to come on and show the fans what I can do.
“They just told me to go and enjoy myself, do what I do in training and just express myself.
“At first, I felt nervous a bit, but when I got onto the pitch and I jumped to win that first header, it felt like all my nerves just went, so I felt comfortable. I was going to take that man on, but they were sitting back quite a lot, so I thought I’d run into traffic, so I thought it would be best to just play it safe.”
On working with Vitor and the first-team squad
“It’s given me a lot of confidence to know that I have people who trust me, like the manager Vitor, Luis [Miguel], Andre [Monteiro], but it’s good to hear that the manager trusts in me.
“It’s also good to hear that next season, I’ll be with them a lot because that’s where I’ve always wanted to be ever since I first dreamed to be a first-team player, playing in the Premier League, so hopefully that happens a lot next season.”
A Wolves and @premierleague debut for 17-year-old Mateus Mane today 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Wtqf9GB4F5
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 10, 2025
On learning from his senior teammates
“It means a lot to me because it’s a good experience. I was watching them when I was younger and now being there training with them, seeing how it is with the intensity and things like that, and how hard it actually is.
“They’re always speaking a lot to me, giving me feedback when I’m struggling and they’re always speaking to me, trying to make me feel at home there, and whenever I ask for feedback, they’ll always be there to talk to me.
“At first, I felt nervous training with them, but now, every time I feel like I’m part of them now. I just speak to everyone now like friends, so it feels good.”
On his progression during the last 18 months
“Sometimes when I look back at it with my friends or family, I would have never thought this would have happened this quick. I always thought it would have happened, but I never thought it would happen this quick. To have happened this quick was like a dream come true, to be fair, to be playing and training with them every day.
“I feel that it’s because of my hard work, my dedication, my hunger and the desire that I have for the game. I always want to be the best and make my family proud. I think that’s helped me a lot.”
On choosing between England and Portugal
“First of all, it’s good to see that the two countries want me to play for them, so I have two options. It’s nice to see, but I feel right now, I’m just seeing what’s best. I’m not really sure what I’m going to pick yet, but right now, I’m just seeing what’s best.”
On his aims for the summer
“I’m just focusing on trying to go every day to train and impress the manager even more. I want to get more minutes before the season ends and hopefully next season, make more and more appearances, try to look to earn a place in the starting 11.
“It’s going to be hard to try to impress Vitor, but I’m just going to get all my work done during the off-season; strength-wise, physically, and everything, I’m just going to focus so I can come straight in next season, try to impress everyone and show what I’m really capable of.”
