From fringe player to Premier League star: Sancho’s rise at Wolves

In recent years, one name has been making waves in the football world—Sergio Sancho. He is neither a striker nor a central midfielder, but a defender, specifically a right-back. His move to Premier League side Wolves in the summer of 2023 caused quite a stir at the time.Now, let’s talk about his growth, his performance at Wolves, and his future potential.

1: From obscurity to gradual recognition

When it comes to Sancho’s beginnings, they weren’t particularly impressive. He started playing in some lower-tier leagues in Spain. Although he was fast and strong in one-on-one situations, no one thought he would become a big star at the time.

It wasn’t until 2018, when he joined Real Sociedad’s youth team, that he truly began to stand out. In just one season, he provided 12 assists, a performance that caught the attention of many. Real Madrid quickly snapped him up.

However, his time at Real Madrid was not as smooth as he had imagined. Although he made it into Real Madrid’s first team, he hardly played under famous coaches such as Ancelotti and Mourinho, at best playing as a substitute. In five years, he only started three times, which is indeed a bit cruel for a professional player.

In 2022, he decided to change his environment and joined the Premier League’s Wolverhampton Wanderers.At first, many people were skeptical about the transfer, thinking that Wolves had spent too much money and even saying that they had “bought the wrong player.” But unexpectedly, Sancho’s performance at Wolves has been impressive.

Last season, he provided seven assists in the Premier League, made three successful tackles and five key passes, with an average rating of 7.8. These statistics have made him a key player in Wolves’ right-wing attack.

2: The transformation of Wolverhampton Wanderers: How did Sancho change the entire team?

Since Sancho joined Wolverhampton Wanderers, the team’s overall tactics have also changed. Previously, Wolverhampton Wanderers played a more traditional 4-4-2 formation, but now they have switched to a more proactive 3-4-3 formation, giving Sancho more freedom.

In the past, the main task of the full-backs was to defend, but now it’s different. The coach’s task for Sancho is not only to defend his own half, but also to participate in the attack, such as pushing forward, crossing, and even cutting inside to shoot. This style of play gives Wolves’ attack more depth.

Data shows that with Sancho, Wolves’ transition efficiency has improved significantly. He is fast, averaging 1.8 kilometers of sprints per game.He is also accurate with his crosses, with a success rate of 62%. This makes him an important weapon for the team on the counterattack.

In addition, he is also solid in defense. According to statistics, he has a 78% success rate in one-on-one defense, which means that most of the time, it is difficult for opposing players to break through on his side. He intercepted 27% of all right-wing attacks in the entire Premier League.

The most surprising thing is his cooperation with the center backs. He often passes the ball from the right to the left to help his teammates create opportunities. In particular, his cooperation with Watkins directly led to the latter scoring 15 goals that season, ranking among the top three in the team.

So it can be said that Sancho’s arrival not only improved the quality of Wolves’ defense, but also made their offense more diverse.

3: Questions behind the high salary

With Sancho’s outstanding performance, Wolves signed a new contract with him in the summer of 2023. The contract is worth £70 million (including some floating clauses), and he will earn £6 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid right-backs in the Premier League.

However, this contract has sparked some controversy. Some argue that while he has performed well, his statistics still fall short compared to other top-tier full-backs, such as Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold or Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier. For instance, in terms of expected goals (xG) in defense, he has a rating of 5.2, while Alexander-Arnold has 6.1 and Trippier has 5.8.

In response to these criticisms, Wolves manager O’Neill publicly expressed his support: “Sancho’s value goes far beyond the numbers. He is the core of our counter-attacking system and a glue in the dressing room.” In other words, he also plays a positive role in team chemistry off the field.

However, the real question is: can he maintain his current form in the coming season? After all, the Premier League is highly competitive, and other teams are beginning to study his characteristics in order to limit him. In addition, with the presence of top wingers such as Kane and Benrahma, only time will tell if Sancho can continue to perform well.

4: Why hasn’t the door to the national team opened for him yet?

Despite his standout performances at the club level, Sancho has yet to secure a regular spot in the Spanish national team. Since 2019, he has only made 12 appearances for the senior national team, with most of those coming in friendly matches.

This has left many fans wondering: why has such an outstanding player been slow to gain recognition from the national team?

There are two main reasons:

First, Spain currently prefers versatile full-backs who can both defend and attack, such as Azpilicueta and De Jong. Sancho is more of an attacking player, which doesn’t quite fit with Spain’s possession-based and rhythmical style of play.

Second, he has some psychological issues. For example, during the 2022 UEFA Nations League, he once failed to understand the tactical instructions, leading to a failed counterattack, which was mockingly dubbed the “fatal mistake king” by fans.

However, the situation may be changing. In 2024, Spain replaced its coach with Cataro. This coach previously coached Sancho at Real Sociedad, and the two worked very well together. It is said that they played 18 official matches together and know each other very well.

If Cataro is willing to give him a chance, Sancho may have a turning point in the national team.

5: Future destination: Stay at Wolves or start a new chapter?

Currently, Sancho has one year remaining on his contract with Wolves, with a buyout clause of 120 million pounds. This figure has deterred many top clubs interested in signing him. However, according to the British newspaper The Daily Mail, Manchester City and Liverpool are quietly monitoring him, while La Liga clubs Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are also showing interest.

For Sancho, his career has evolved from being a “forgotten talent” to a “Premier League core player,” a journey that has not been easy. However, due to the increasing demands on wingers in modern football—no longer just defensive tools but also required to participate in attacks—players like him, who can both attack and defend, have become increasingly valuable.

Conclusion: Position determines value, data defines status

Looking back at Sancho’s career, we can see how an ordinary player can rise to the spotlight through hard work and opportunity. From a youth academy player at Real Sociedad, to a fringe player at Real Madrid, and now the tactical core of Wolves, his journey tells us: in this era, position determines your market value, and data determines your status in professional football.

The 2024-2025 season is just around the corner. Will Sancho continue to perform at a high level? Will he make it into the national team? Or could he even leave Wolves to pursue opportunities on a bigger stage? The answers to these questions may lie in the negotiations of the next transfer window.

Regardless of what the future holds, Sancho’s story is already inspiring. He has proven, in his own way, that with opportunity, even from the humblest beginnings, one can carve out an extraordinary life.