Wolves Manager Vítor Pereira Excludes Mario Lemina Amid Transfer Speculation: "I Don’t Want Players with Doubts"

Wolverhampton Wanderers' head coach, Vítor Pereira, has declared that midfielder Mario Lemina will be sidelined until the conclusion of the January transfer window due to the player's expressed desire to depart the club. 

Pereira emphasized the necessity for unwavering commitment from his squad, stating, "I want players committed with the team, club and everything. He still wants a move; I don’t want players with doubts." 

Lemina, who was appointed club captain ahead of the 2024-25 season, was stripped of the captaincy in December 2024 following a post-match incident against West Ham United. Subsequently, the Gabon international has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab, with Wolves reportedly seeking a transfer fee of approximately £5 million. 

Despite Lemina's recent apology to Pereira and his teammates for refusing to play in the 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United, the manager remains resolute in his decision to exclude the midfielder from selection until his future is resolved. Pereira stated, "I cannot bring a player who comes to me and says he's not in a condition mentally to help the team, 'I want to leave'... I don't need him. I'd prefer to play another player." 

This development occurs amidst a challenging period for Wolves, who are striving to improve their standing in the Premier League under Pereira's leadership. The club has recently faced setbacks in the transfer market, including the hijacking of their £10 million deal for Portuguese midfielder Manu Silva by Benfica.