Wolves’ Move for Marc Pubill Progresses Before Shock Atletico Madrid Twist – AC Milan’s Withdrawal Explained
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ summer transfer activity has gained serious momentum, with the club hopeful of announcing multiple new signings in the coming days. Among those on the radar is highly-rated Spanish right-back Marc Pubill, who has been heavily linked with a move from La Liga side Almeria.
Head coach Vitor Pereira has been open about the club’s desire to reinforce the right-back position, particularly amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of Nelson Semedo. Despite the club reportedly offering the Portuguese full-back a new deal, Semedo has yet to commit, and his silence is now being interpreted as a clear sign that he is preparing to move on.
With Semedo’s departure appearing increasingly inevitable, Wolves have stepped up their pursuit of a successor. That pursuit took a significant step forward this week, with renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealing on Monday night that Wolves were closing in on a deal to sign Marc Pubill. Talks have progressed rapidly, and optimism has grown within the club that a transfer could soon be completed.
Supporting that notion, Diario de Almeria has now reported that Pubill was notably absent from Almeria’s pre-season trip to Marbella. While the rest of the squad travelled for their training camp, the 21-year-old remained behind – a move interpreted as a strong indication that a transfer is imminent. Pubill had only recently returned from holiday, and it is believed he will now stay in Almeria while finalising the details of his switch to Molineux.
Although Wolves are yet to submit a formal bid, advanced discussions have taken place, and the player’s exclusion from team activities suggests that both clubs are on the same page regarding the likely outcome.
Why AC Milan Dropped Interest in Pubill
Interestingly, Wolves were not the only club interested in signing the Spanish defender. AC Milan had also shown strong interest earlier this summer, with reports suggesting Pubill had even undergone a preliminary medical with the Italian giants. However, the Serie A club ultimately decided to withdraw from the race.
The reason behind Milan’s decision has now come to light. While Pubill had previously failed a medical with Atalanta due to a flagged knee issue in 2023 – which Atalanta cited as needing specialist examination – that was not the concern this time around. In fact, Milan had no medical concerns following their checks. Instead, according to MilanNews.it, manager Max Allegri opted to prioritise different player profiles, specifically those more similar in style to Guela Doué or Wilfred Singo.
Though Pubill had impressed in La Liga with his pace and defensive maturity, he ultimately did not fit Allegri’s tactical preferences, and Milan chose to explore alternative options.
Dramatic Twist as Atletico Madrid Hijack Wolves’ Move
Just as it seemed Wolves were closing in on their third summer signing – after securing Jhon Arias from Fluminense – a dramatic late twist has thrown the deal into disarray. In a shock development on Wednesday evening, Atletico Madrid have reportedly swooped in and hijacked the move for Pubill.
This unexpected intervention by the Spanish giants is a huge blow for Wolves, who had hoped to wrap up the deal within days. Atletico’s last-minute involvement has effectively forced Wolves back to the drawing board in their quest to find a replacement for Semedo.
With the Premier League season fast approaching, time is of the essence. The pressure is now firmly on the Wolves hierarchy to act quickly and secure an alternative right-back before the transfer window closes. Vitor Pereira will be demanding urgency and decisiveness from the club’s recruitment team to ensure his squad is fully prepared for the campaign ahead.
Wolves fans will be watching closely in the coming days, hoping that the disappointment over Pubill’s hijacked transfer won’t derail the club’s transfer strategy – and that a new right-back solution is found swiftly.