Mateus Mane recalls learning the game alongside his older brother Marcos.
“They used to bully me off the ball. That helped me a lot, especially playing on concrete,” says the Wolves forward.
“I wasn’t used to good pitches. That’s probably why I’ve got loads of scars.”
The 18-year-old moved from Portugal to Moston, a suburb northeast of Manchester, with his mother at age eight. He didn’t speak English initially, taking a year to learn, but playing with Marcos laid the foundation for his Premier League journey.
Mane has been the bright spot in a difficult Wolves season, which will end in relegation with just two wins. Despite the team’s struggles, he has started every Premier League game since his full debut against Liverpool FC at Anfield in December. He faces the Reds again in the FA Cup at Molineux this Friday, three days after Wolves’ dramatic 2-1 injury-time Premier League win.
Two years after appearing on Rochdale’s bench in the National League, Mane is already becoming a household name.
Early Influences and Development
Soon after moving to England, Mane admired Sergio Aguero and “,”David Silva”], and he tried to emulate Neymar through YouTube videos.
He joined City Select Academy and played youth football for Manchester Cobras and Moston Brook FC. Despite his early focus on football, he kept a cheeky, playful side, which he says has matured over the years.
He still visits home on Sundays for church when fixtures allow, showing balance and maturity off the pitch as well.
Rochdale Academy and Wolves Breakthrough
Mane joined Rochdale’s academy at 15, then run by Tony Ellis, now Wolves’ head of northern recruitment. Ellis was impressed immediately:
“He lit the place up. His technical ability, decision-making, and attributes were exceptional for his age. He was always communicating, always happy in the environment, and quick to gain trust.”
After just one training session, Mane was offered a spot in the academy. By February 2024, he was an unused substitute for Rochdale against Dagenham & Redbridge FC at 16. A successful trial led to him joining Wolves that summer, starting his rise to Premier League football.
