When Wolves announced the signing of Enso Gonzalez, not many knew the capabilities of the Paraguayan that the Old Gold had secured.
Having moved from his home country, the 19-year-old youngster is still getting used to the English game. He has only made U21 matches in his career with the Midlands team.
The club signed the winger with an eye towards the future, as Molineux News exclusively spoke with Roberto Rojas, a Paraguayan football expert, on how much of a force Gonzalez may grow under Gary O’Neil.
Roberto Rojas tips Enso Gonzalez to make a breakthrough at Wolves
When asked about the potential of the Paraguay U23 star, ESPN journalist Rojas provided a positive assessment of what the Wolves may anticipate from the teenager.
“It depends on what he and Wolves have in store for him, but I would hope to expect some playing time under Gary O’Neill very soon.”
As he experienced when crossing the Atlantic from Paraguay to England, “it is never easy for anyone to go to a different country and environment, but when an opportunity arises like he did when he first joined, there is also pressure to compete and do well, especially when chances are limited in the situation that he is in.”
“I hope that his Pre-Olympic victory with Paraguay, which allowed them to qualify for the Paris Games, inspires him to give his best in England.”
Following his goal to take Paraguay to the Olympics for the first time in 20 years, the academy hopeful was recently hailed in his native country. Rojas saw changes in Gonzalez’s style of play.
“In the Venezuelan competition, he appeared to be a different player than he did upon his arrival in England.”
Enso Gonzalez could one day be Wolves’ Pedro Neto successor
Referred to as a player with the ability to score goals in a “pacy” and “flashy” manner, Rojas compared the Paraguayan to Pedro Neto, one of O’Neil’s main players, explaining how the 19-year-old might eventually fit in at Molineux.
“I believe he is unpredictable in one-on-one situations and possesses the speed and awareness to outplay players in confined spaces.” Indeed, I liken his style of play to that of Neto.
“He would be Neto’s like-for-like replacement in an ideal world.”
“Unless he significantly improves and impresses O’Neil in the next few weeks and months, I don’t think that will happen anytime soon, but I think the way they attack would work well if played best on the wing moving around the space by being able to link up with his fellow attacking players.”
Rojas’s comparison of Neto and Gonzalez may be found in some statistics collected during the 2023 Copa Libertadores characteristics for the adolescent.
According to FBref, the Paraguayan produced an average of 0.95 successful take-ons that resulted in a shot attempt per 90, and he averaged an incredible 4.44 successful take-ons per 90 over the tournament.
Gonzalez, a raw and developing talent, has the world at his disposal while playing in a Premier League academy, so the early indicators are promising.
Lately, there has been conjecture that the 19-year-old would be sent on loan for the upcoming campaign; this might be a crucial step in his development into the Old Gold’s starting lineup.
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