Marcal claims ‘selling strategy’ has cost Wolves as he confirms transfer plan

Marcal believes the ‘strategy of selling young players’ cost Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fight for European football.

Brazilian defender Marcal was a regular in Bruno Lage’s starting line-up in the first half of the season before losing his place to Rayan Ait-Nouri. Ait-Nouri is one of several youngsters operating within Wolves’ first team this season.

Wolves owners Fosun have displayed a preference for developing young talent in order to make profits in the transfer window. Ten players under the age of 23 have played for Wolves in the Premier League this season.

Marcal, 33, believes that strategy hindered Wolves in their bid to secure European football. “The season could certainly have gone better,” the left-back told Brazilian outlet IG.

“I think we had a very good squad, we could easily have already qualified for European competitions, but I think the club’s strategy in the middle of the season of putting in slightly younger players to also being able to sell them ended up conditioning our performance in the race for European competitions.

“I also thank my staff, because this year thank God I didn’t have an injury. I did some work aside so that there was no injury, since last year I had to have three surgeries and it got in the way of my work, and this year the goal was not to have any injuries and it went well.

“I ended up playing less games than expected due to the club’s strategy of selling young players. We generally fell short of expectations.”

Marcal’s contract at Molineux expires next month and the former Lyon defender is expected to leave the club. A return to Brazil is on the cards for Marcal, who has been in talks with Botafogo in recent months.

"We are talking,” he admitted. “They came to me, showed