Ten years of Fosun: Wolves’ biggest disasters | OneFootball

As the 10-year anniversary of Fosun’s takeover approaches, Wolves’ bruising episodes tell a stark story, from Europe to relegation fights and major exits.

ExpressAndStar.com reports the slide began in 2022-23 when Bruno Lage was dismissed after one win in eight league games, and caretaker Steve Davis added one from the next seven.

Julen Lopetegui arrived after the Qatar World Cup in winter 2022 and beat Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Aston Villa. Survival followed, but a 6-0 loss at Brighton in late April 2023 exposed the frailty.

In summer 2023, PSR pressures bit and Lopetegui grew irked by the limitations. Ruben Neves joined Al Hilal for £47 million, Matheus Nunes went to Manchester City for £53 million and Raul Jimenez left for Fulham, with Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore, Conor Coady and Nathan Collins also departing. Five days before 2023-24 kicked off, Lopetegui left and Gary O’Neil arrived.

The new campaign opened with Andre Onana colliding with Sasa Kalajdzic in defeat at Manchester United. Referee Simon Hooper waved play on and VAR Michael Salisbury did not intervene, the PGMOL later accepted a penalty should have been awarded and both officials were stood down the next weekend.

Controversy persisted and O’Neil regularly criticised VAR. Further exits offered little encouragement, with sales between 2023 and 2025 including Max Kilman, Pedro Neto, Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Last season brought relegation with just 20 points. Wolves failed to win their opening 19 league games, a Premier League record, with Vitor Pereira sacked after 10 of that run and a rock-bottom finish under Rob Edwards. They won only three league games, scored 27, and Edwards was later dismissed.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com