Absolutely — the story of Vitinha and Wolves is one that encapsulates the unpredictable nature of football. It’s a tale of what might have been, and a prime example of how easily a club can miss out on a future superstar — not through negligence, but through circumstance, timing, and perhaps a touch of conservatism. It’s no surprise that Rio Ferdinand used Wolves as the punchline of a joke on his podcast, but in truth, the situation deserves a much more thoughtful reflection.

Let’s wind the clock back to 2020. Wolves were still riding the wave of their strong return to the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo. They had a defined style, a solid defensive core, and a midfield built around the experienced Joao Moutinho and the ever-improving Ruben Neves. Into that setup came a fresh-faced 20-year-old named Vitor Machado Ferreira — better known as Vitinha. Signed on loan from Porto, Vitinha arrived with a growing reputation in Portugal but little experience at the highest level.

It wasn’t an easy situation for a young creative midfielder. Nuno’s system was structured, rigid, and relied on discipline rather than flair. Creativity was often left to the wide players or attackers like Raul Jimenez or Pedro Neto. Midfield was about control and containment, not risk-taking. As a result, Vitinha found himself on the fringes. He made 22 appearances in total, but only 19 in the Premier League, and even then, just five of those were starts. He averaged 28 minutes per league game — barely enough time to make an impression. Wolves fans caught glimpses of his potential: the clever turns, the silky dribbling, the eye for a pass. But there wasn’t enough of it. Not consistently. Not in games that mattered most.

At the end of the season, Wolves had a decision to make. A clause in the loan deal allowed them to sign Vitinha permanently for £17 million. Not a massive fee by today’s standards, but for Wolves — especially post-COVID and with other transfer priorities — it wasn’t insignificant. And given the lack of impact, they decided to pass. He returned to Porto, and that, for a while, seemed like the end of the story.

But what happened next changed everything.

Back in Portugal, Vitinha blossomed. He became a key part of the Porto midfield, helping them win the Primeira Liga and impressing in European competition. His performances earned him a move to Paris Saint-Germain, where many assumed he might become just another squad player in a team full of superstars. Instead, he’s emerged as one of the club’s most important players. He’s controlling the tempo in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, dominating games, and showing intelligence and creativity on the ball that has led pundits to compare him to the great Luka Modric.

It was this transformation that led to the conversation between Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves on the Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE podcast. When Vitinha’s name came up, Ferdinand couldn’t help but chuckle, saying: “Vitinha, he couldn’t even get in at Wolves. He weren’t playing at Wolves.” It was said half in jest, but there was a sting to it — not just for the club, but for fans who remember watching the young Portuguese midfielder and wondering why he wasn’t being given more of a chance.

Ferdinand’s mockery was light-hearted, but the underlying message wasn’t lost: Wolves let a gem slip through their fingers. Hargreaves then raised the stakes by comparing Vitinha to Modric, saying, “He is Modric reincarnated, unreal.” To which Ferdinand added, “Did you ever think we’d see a Modric again? I didn’t, and he [Vitinha] turned up whilst he’s still playing.”

That’s high praise — and it puts Wolves in the awkward position of having to explain how they had a player of that quality in their squad and decided not to keep him.

But this is football. Hindsight is a luxury few in the game can afford. At the time, Vitinha was a young, untested player in a team trying to establish itself in the Premier League. The coaching staff trusted experience. They wanted results. Joao Moutinho was still playing at a high level, and Vitinha was, perhaps, too similar to Neves in style to warrant a major tactical reshuffle. In the pressure-cooker world of top-flight football, those factors often dictate decisions more than long-term potential.

Yet, Wolves have been here before.

You only have to look at Diogo Jota. Sold to Liverpool for around £45 million, he’s since gone on to become a key figure at Anfield, scoring important goals and proving to be a smart signing for Jurgen Klopp. Then there’s Morgan Gibbs-White — a player who, like Vitinha, needed time and trust. He didn’t quite break through at Wolves and was sold to Nottingham Forest, where he’s now one of their most influential players. Patrick Cutrone, Adama Traoré, even Rafa Mir — the list of talented players who never quite fit into the Wolves puzzle, only to shine elsewhere, is growing.

It all points to a broader issue that many clubs face: the challenge of balancing the present with the future. Wolves, like many mid-tier Premier League clubs, are under constant pressure to perform. One bad season could mean relegation. That fear often forces managers to go with what they know — veterans, experience, systems that minimize risk. Young talent like Vitinha can fall through the cracks, not because they aren’t good enough, but because there’s no time to let them grow.

Fast forward to now, and Wolves are enjoying a remarkable resurgence under Vitor Pereira. Their recent 1-0 win over Manchester United — Ferdinand’s beloved former club — secured safety and capped off a stunning five-game winning streak. Pereira has breathed new life into the squad, found balance in midfield, and seems to be unlocking players’ potential in a way that Nuno struggled to with Vitinha. It’s a sweet bit of irony — while Rio chuckles about Vitinha’s time at Wolves, the club is beating his old team and looking stronger than they have in years.

But still, the “Vitinha mistake” will remain a talking point. Not because Wolves were foolish, but because it shows how fine the margins are in football. A player who barely gets 30 minutes a game can go on to be compared to one of the greatest midfielders in history — all it takes is the right environment, the right coach, and a bit of faith.

In the end, Vitinha’s rise doesn’t have to be a stain on Wolves’ record. Instead, it can serve as a lesson. A lesson in patience. A reminder that talent needs nurturing. And maybe — just maybe — a sign that Wolves should think twice before letting another young gem walk out the door.