With Rayan-Aït-Nouri’s move to Manchester City now complete, Hugo Bueno stands as the natural successor on the left side, allowing a golden opportunity for the 22-year-old to establish himself within the team.
Vitor Pereira was appointed Wolves Head Coach in December 2024, replacing Gary O’Neil midway through last season and in that short time, has already implemented the structure, shape and intensity that defines his coaching style.
Pereira’s style is methodical, and his teams often operate in either a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-4-3 formation, using full-backs and wing-backs not just as wide runners but as key cogs in the team’s build-up and structure.
This means that tactical flexibility and defensive reliability are a must which are two traits which align with Hugo Bueno’s strengths.
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His time to shine in gold and black
The departure of Rayan-Aït-Nouri which saw him swapping the gold and black of Wolverhampton for the sky blue of Manchester City for £36.3 million earlier this month will require a major change for Wolves.
Aït-Nouri had been one of Wolves’ most adventurous players, often creating goal-scoring opportunities, while his attacking was exciting with his runs and incisive dribbling, it came with a risk especially defensively.
Bueno offers a different style of play. Less flamboyant than what Wolves fans will be used to with Aït-Nouri, but more balanced.
His game is built on composure, positioning and efficiency in possession, and now with no immediate rival for the left-back spot, Bueno finally has a full pre-season ahead of him to prove he’s more than ready.
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Built for Pereira's style of play
The Spanish left-back, who joined Wolves from CD Aerosa in 2019, has always been a technically sound and defensively aware player. Although, he may not be a headline-maker, he understands structure which is key for Pereira’s system.
Last season, Bueno joined Feyenoord on a season long loan, which may prove to be the turning point of his career.
In the Netherlands, Bueno was tasked with a higher-tempo build of play, he thrived in an environment where full-backs are expected to be more than just defenders: they’re play makers and tempo-setters.
Statistically, his time on loan saw him create career-best numbers in progressive passes and key passes per 90, showing why he could be crucial and a perfect successor to Aït-Nouri if given the chance.
Importantly, Bueno has returned to Wolves not just fitter and sharper, but with the mindset of a first teamer.
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Time to make a change
Now 22, Bueno is entering a pivotal phase of his development, having made more than 40 senior appearances since his debut in 2022. With regular minutes, he has the tools to evolve further.
He’s shown flashes of offensive quality: well-weighted through balls, intelligent overlaps, and clean crosses into dangerous areas.
Now may be the time for him to showcase his ability, with Vitor Pereira known for improving technically intelligent players.
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Wolves may not need to spend to replace
With Wolves losing the likes of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan-Aït-Nouri to Manchester City, with other players potentially leaving too, Wolves may not need to spend to replace the left-back position.
Bueno is Premier League ready and is a clear option for a position that demands recruitment, Pereira may prefer to invest time and trust in Bueno.
He may not even be a replacement for the time being, if he succeeds, he could be a cornerstone for Wolves for the next three to five seasons.
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A player built for the moment
With Wolves losing the likes of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan-Aït-Nouri to Manchester City, with other players potentially leaving too, Wolves may not need to spend to replace the left-back position.
Bueno is Premier League ready and is a clear option for a position that demands recruitment, Pereira may prefer to invest time and trust in Bueno.
He may not even be a replacement for the time being, if he succeeds, he could be a cornerstone for Wolves for the next three to five seasons.
