Wolves Boss César Peixoto Tells Star Player: Find a New Club or You Won’t Play a Single Game This Season

César Peixoto has only been Wolves manager for one month. But he is already making it clear: he is in charge, and he will not compromise.

The Portuguese boss, who took over at Molineux in June, has delivered a brutal ultimatum to one of his first-team players: leave the club this summer, or spend the entire season on the bench.

What Peixoto Said

In his first real test as Wolves boss, Peixoto did not hold back. Speaking to journalists at the club’s training ground, he made his stance crystal clear:

“I have been transparent with him, with his agent, and with the board. He is not part of my plans. If he stays, he will not play  not one minute. Not in the Premier League, not in the cups, not anywhere. It is his choice: find a new club before the window closes, or prepare to sit in the stands for the entire season.”

“I was not brought here to keep things as they were. I was brought here to change things. That means making difficult decisions early. I will not carry players who do not fit what we are building.”

For a manager who has only been in the job for four weeks, it is a remarkably bold  some might say reckless  statement of intent.

Why Some Fans Are Happy

A large section of the Wolves fanbase has applauded Peixoto’s uncompromising approach. They see a manager who is not afraid to make tough calls, even if they are unpopular.

What they’re saying:

· “Finally, a manager with backbone. We’ve had too many players coasting for years.”

· “He’s been here five minutes and already he’s showing more authority than the last three managers combined.”

· “If you don’t want to fight for the shirt, get out. Simple as that.”

For these supporters, Peixoto is exactly what the club needed: a young, hungry manager with a clear vision and the courage to enforce it even if that means upsetting a few egos along the way.

Why Some Fans Are Not Happy

But not everyone is convinced. A significant number of Wolves fans have voiced concerns about the way Peixoto has handled the situation.

What they’re saying:

· “This is how you lose a dressing room before the season even starts. Handle it privately.”

· “You can be firm without humiliating a player in front of the world.”

· “Now every club knows we want to sell. We’ve lost all our bargaining power.”

There are also worries about the wider impact on squad morale. If Peixoto is willing to publicly exile one player so early into his reign, other squad members may start to feel uneasy about their own positions. That could create tension and distrust within the group  exactly what a new manager does not need ahead of a gruelling Premier League campaign.

While Peixoto refused to name names during his press conference, sources close to the club have confirmed that the player at the centre of the storm is Tolu Arokodare.

The Nigerian striker joined Wolves from Belgian side Genk in January 2024 and was initially seen as a promising addition to the squad. His physical presence and aerial ability made him a useful option off the bench, and he featured regularly under previous managers.

However, since Peixoto’s arrival last month, Arokodare has struggled to adapt to the new tactical demands. The manager’s system favours quick, mobile forwards who press from the front and link play in tight spaces a style that does not appear to suit the Nigerian’s strengths.

The 25-year-old, who still has two years remaining on his current contract, is believed to be earning around £35,000 per week at Molineux. He was notably absent from Wolves’ first pre-season friendly against Como last weekend  a decision that raised questions at the time but now makes complete sense.

By openly admitting that Arokodare is surplus to requirements, Wolves have effectively signalled to every other club in Europe that they are desperate to sell. That is almost certain to drive down the striker’s transfer value, with potential buyers likely to submit lowball offers knowing Wolves need to offload.

 

Arokodare still has two years on his deal, and if he chooses to stay and see it out, Wolves could be left paying high wages for a player who contributes absolutely nothing on the pitch.

 

Peixoto, however, appears unconcerned by the financial implications.

 

“I am a coach, not an accountant,” he said with a shrug. “My job is to win matches. If he stays, he costs money and adds nothing. That is worse than selling for less than we want. I will not let money dictate my decisions on the pitch.”

The summer transfer window closes on August 31, leaving just over five weeks for Arokodare to find a new club  or for Wolves to accept that they may have an expensive, unhappy squad member on their hands for the entire season.

Pre-season continues this week, with the Nigerian striker now training separately from the main group. That is a clear and visible sign that Peixoto’s threat is not an empty one.

The Wolves board, is understood to be fully behind their new manager. The club has already been active in the transfer market this summer, with the arrivals of Tomás Araújo from Benfica and André from Fluminense strengthening the squad. Further arrivals are expected if Arokodare is moved on.

Interest in the 25-year-old is believed to have come from clubs in Turkey and France, with Galatasaray and Lens both reportedly monitoring the situation. However, no formal bid has yet been tabled. With time running out, Arokodare faces a difficult decision: accept a move elsewhere, or dig his heels in and risk watching his career stall for an entire season.

For Peixoto, this is about more than just one player. It is about establishing his authority early and sending a message to everyone at the club: no one is bigger than the team.

Whether that message lands with the fans or backfires spectacularly remains to be seen.

As one Wolves insider put it: “He came here to change the culture, not to tinker around the edges. This is his first real test. So far, he is passing it on his own terms.”

But the final verdict will only come when the season starts. And if results do not follow, Peixoto may find that the fans who cheered his boldness today are the same ones calling for his head tomorrow.