BECKHAM REAPS REWARDS OF TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH WOLVES

Leonardo Campana could become the latest player to pass through Wolverhampton Wanderers without playing a single minute in the first team. The Ecuadorian striker joined Wolves in January 2020 after signing with Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute agency. Campana spent the second half of the 2019/20 season in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad, but he never played under the ex-Wolves boss.

Wolves loaned the 21-year-old out to Famalicao last season, where he scored twice in nine Primeira Liga appearances. Another loan to Grasshoppers followed in the first half of this campaign and Campana scored three times in 14 games in Switzerland. But a huge opportunity presented itself to the striker in January, with a move to David Beckham’s Inter Miami on the table. The MLS club have confirmed they hold an option to buy Campana at the end of his loan spell.

Miami are managed by Beckham’s former Manchester United teammate Phil Neville and their squad includes former Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain. But they struggled in MLS last year, finishing 11th out of 14 in the Eastern Conference, and they haven’t made a great start to the new campaign. Rock-bottom Miami were winless heading into match-week six against New England Revolution and without Higuain due to injury. Campana was selected to start in place of Higuain and repaid Neville’s faith with a hat-trick.

The on-loan Wolves forward netted twice in six first half minutes to cancel out New England’s opener before scoring an 88th minute winner to clinch a 3-2 victory for Miami. As reward for scoring the first hat-trick in Inter Miami’s history, Campana was named MLS player of the week. Campana has continued to star in Higuain’s absence to lead Miami to four straight victories. After inspiring his team against New England, Campana played a pivotal role in the 1-0 win at Seattle Sounders before scoring the winner in a cup clash with Miami FC.