Wolves boss Nuno: Rafa Mir is adapting
Nuno Espirito Santo believes Wolves new boy Rafa Mir is better now than when he had him at Valencia – but still has a lot of improvements to make.
The 20-year-old forward moved from the Spanish giants earlier this month for £1.5million.
Mir has made four appearances in gold and black so far, starting the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Swansea last week.
Nuno gave the player his senior debut when he was Valencia boss two seasons ago, with Mir starting a Champions League clash against Zenit St Petersburg a week before the head coach left the club.
And Nuno, speaking before he and the squad jetted off for a week’s warm weather training in Spain, said Mir was settling in well to English football.
“I think the group is helping him a lot to adapt as fast as he can,” the Portuguese head coach said.
“He’s starting his English lessons and he’s adapting well.
“I think he’s improved (since Valencia) because there’s been two years, he’s more mature and I think he has a lot to improve and get better.
“That’s what he came here for, to improve himself, help the squad, bring new things to the squad and he’s another option in the group.”
Fellow forward Diogo Jota said the squad were doing their best to help Mir – who was playing for Valencia’s B team in the Spanish third tier – adapt to his new surroundings.
“He’s trying to adapt himself, he’s very young also and he’s outside of Spain for the first time,” joint-top Wolves goalscorer Jota said.
“With our help to show his game in matches.
“We are doing our best, we talk similar language and it will be easy.
“He’ll be a good signing for us.”
As for whether the newbie has had to undergo an initiation ceremony and sing to the squad, Jota joked: “Not yet! Maybe before the next game.”
Meanwhile, only restricted view tickets remain for Saturday’s trip to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Wolves have an allocation of 1,500 seats priced at £25 and only a few are still left on sale.
Wolves have been handed a 5,600 allocation for their next away game after that, the trip to face Alex Neil’s Preston North End, on Saturday February 17.
If Preston beat Sheffield United in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Bramall Lane this Saturday, the fixtures will be postponed as the fifth round takes place on that weekend.
