Santi Bueno has barely featured since arriving at the Wolves late in the summer transfer window; now Gary O’Neil has urged him to stay ready.
Wolves‘ summer signing Santi Bueno was signed from Girona for a fee of £8.5 million, but as of yet hasn’t been used. Just one first team appearance for the 24-year-old so far, which came in an unconvincing Carabao Cup display against Championship high flyers Ipswich Town.
The Wolves have played a back three, with Craig Dawson, Max Kilman, and Toti Gomes all picked ahead of Bueno and all three not likely to be dropped by Gary O’Neil.
This has led Bueno to be featured in the U21s in order to stay fit and try to build match fitness. The Uruguayan will no doubt be frustrated, but the general consensus is that Bueno will come good.
O’Neil told Bueno to remain prepared.
O’Neil clarified, “It’s obviously difficult (for him); he was thrown in for the Ipswich game, and it was his first game anywhere this season,” in interviews with Express and Star.
“He participated in an under-21 match, but it’s now challenging for him to accrue enough match minutes over the season to catch up.
To ensure that the players who aren’t participating are prepared, that is the rationale behind our intense training regimen.
“He’s coming along well and has trained really well. He’s trying to keep closing the gap to the ones that have had a smoother summer and played more football. So when your moment comes, you’re ready.”
Santi Bueno’s salary
Signed in the summer, Bueno still has the majority of his 5-year contract remaining, which sees him earn £30k a week according to Capology.
With his contract running until 2028, he will earn £7.8m over the course of his contract, assuming that he doesn’t earn a pay rise anytime soon.
The Wolves will see him as a long-term replacement for Dawson if he can integrate himself well into the first team. Bueno is a proven entity if he can adapt to English football, having played 120 games for Girona in recent years.
Bueno needs to be patient, and fans also need to remain patient with humans; eventually, he should come good on his fee.
