© Breaking The Lines 2017-2021. All Rights Reserved.

Rodrigo Gomes: The Next Portuguese Revelation in Wolverhampton

August 20, 2024
Player Analysis, Transfer Analysis, Premier League Analysis

The initial signs are positive. Three goals in five competitive pre-season matches? Wolves may have done it again. Another Portuguese player was welcomed to ‘the Pack’, daring to conquer the hearts of the Wolverhampton faithful. Therefore, nothing new in that part of the West Midlands. Rodrigo Gomes looks to follow the legacy of Matt Doherty. Or perhaps Diogo Jota at times. Undeniably an exciting and versatile talent.

 

Rodrigo Martins Gomes was born on the 7th of July 2003 in Póvoa De Varzim, the birth-place of international talents such as ex-Zenit and Sporting CP defender Luís Neto, hard man Bruno Alves (Harry Kane remembers him) and Hélder Postiga (Spurs fans might remember him).

 

Everything began at CB Povoa Lanhoso and other local clubs before being poached by SC Braga aged 11, following the footsteps of…Pedro Neto. Rodrigo progressed through the academy ranks, reaching the Under-23s where he would regularly contribute with match-winning decisive actions.

 

 

Rising through the youth teams, he stood out for his stamina, speed, direct dribbling and maturity. His engine and dedication meant that he never neglected defensive responsibility as an attacker, making him a favourite among coaches from day one.

 

Aged 17, Rodrigo Gomes made his senior debut – a testament to his mentality. In his first start, he made a direct contribution to the fourth goal in a 7-0 demolition of Clube Olímpico do Montijo in the Taça de Portugal. Rodrigo made more appearances with each passing season, but ultimately needed guaranteed minutes on a regular basis – which he found at Estoril.

 

The Portuguese youth international would start out on the wing, but soon cemented himself as an indispensable, key figure from the right flank as an attacking, dynamic wing-back as Estoril transitioned into a five-man defence. Gomes would score and assist on three separate occasions, contributing with eight assists and nine goals in all competitions, including an unbelievable Allianz (League) Cup run where Estoril would defeat Benfica and Porto en route to the final where they faced…Braga. Gomes, naturally, was impeded from featuring.

 

Rodrigo has also made more than 35 appearances from under-16 right up until under-21 level for the Portuguese national team, racking up nine goals along the way. Gomes has also featured for Braga in European competition, as he claimed an assist in a knockout stage victory over AS Monaco in the UEFA Europa League.

 

 

This excellent past 2023/24 season enticed Wolves to opt for yet another former Estoril player – Toti Gomes and Chiquinho made the same switch, while Renat Dadashov, Matheus Nunes and Leo Bonatini similarly enjoyed spells at the Canarinhos. The ‘Old Gold’ were forced to part ways with 15 million euros and ‘overcome competition from a host of clubs’ (as per respected journalist David Ornstein) to secure the players’ services until 2029, with an option to extend the contract for an additional year.

 

Wolves’ official website gave us some insight into how, when and why Rodrigo Gomes was identified, analysed and secured. They began scouting him in May 2020 during a U-17 match vs. Germany where Portugal won 2-0, with Neto impressing whilst playing on both wings.

 

“The player Gomes has become marries up to many of those early reports – an extremely determined player, on and off the pitch. By the end of the 2021/22 season, Wolves stepped up their scouting intently. Typical for a wide man of his tender years, Gomes had been regularly rotated during the campaign, like Neto at his age, but got his teeth stuck into the Europa League. However, his move to Estoril fully triggered the Old Gold’s recruitment team, and his performances on loan saw him placed on the radars of clubs across Europe.”

 

“Each Wolves scout, whether they watched him on video or live, were impressed with what they saw from Gomes. Then, O’Neil’s prior knowledge of the player made it a straightforward decision for all parties. The key words used to describe Gomes are work rate, intensity and speed – Wolves scouts enjoyed his direct nature. Gomes can play on either side, so brings versatility to the table and is a humble character, which is a key personality trait of the culture being built at Compton Park.”

 

 

“It wasn’t uncommon to see Gomes running the whole length of the pitch when Estoril were winning in the 90th minute. Some players wouldn’t do that, but he’s got desire and hunger. Comparisons are made to (Pedro) Neto, with his arched back running style and powerful running to get past defenders at full speed, but right footed.”

 

At 21 years old, Gomes is certainly an exciting player with physical, technical and mental attributes poised to make an impact and transition into the demanding Premier League with ease. Standing at 1.75m (5ft 9in) tall, Gomes is a leaner, diminutive profile who benefits from sharp, explosive acceleration and a lower centre of gravity coupled with great stamina and untirable dedication.

 

Whenever possible, Gomes will cover any ground necessary to attack the ball, space or opposing player and demonstrates maturity in his decision-making without the ball, while manipulating his body and having patience to trigger his explosive nature in the appropriate moments.

 

Due to his quick feet and neat close control, Rodrigo possesses decent ability to carry the ball forward with pace and intent effectively. He averages over three progressive carries while attempting at least two or three dribbles per 90 minutes, which are numbers to make the difference offensively for a side who finished 13th in the 2023/24 Liga Betclic, just one point above Portimonense who were ultimately relegated.

 

 

The success of Gomes’ crossing can vary. While his cutbacks are very effective and consistent, his deeper crossing can often appear lackadaisical without clearing the first man. The same can be said about his shorter and longer passing. Rodrigo can combine well in congested zones with sharp, clever passes and touches, while perhaps being too keen to evade pressure in build-up with his longer escapes. He is comfortable in advanced areas needing decisive action, as he has a potent, reliable strike. However, Gomes often forces the shot, which can be to his detriment.

 

Gomes shows real intensity when attacking and anticipating opportunities to press and fight for second balls, however, this can be to the detriment of maintaining defensive stability as he can be naive and leave his defence short. His instinct is to go forward, and despite his mentality and responsibility to retrieve, he often struggles positionally and physically in organised defensive contexts while demonstrating a lack of awareness and concentration.

 

As a young, primarily attacking player, this is to be expected, but needs to be accounted for and focussed on behind the scenes. The concerns are also dependent on which role Rodrigo should fulfill, as his shortcomings would be masked should he stick to patrolling advanced areas as a winger, or continue as a wing-back, which has served him well in recent years.

 

João Cancelo is not in his prime. Nor is Ricardo Pereira. Wolves fans would say the same about Nélson Semedo. Is it time for Rodrigo Gomes to make his mark, in black and gold, and in green and red?

 

By: Kevin Araujo Fernandes / @kevinaraujof

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Jack Thomas – WWFC

EmailLinkedIn