“A true star” – Player making new and successful life after Wolves

Jhon Arias made his debut for Palmeiras on Saturday night and quickly showed why the Brazilian side invested heavily to bring him back from Wolves.

The Colombian joined Palmeiras from Wolves in a deal worth around £21.5m (€25m). His time at Molineux did not unfold as expected, but his return to Brazil now carries significant attention – including from those who followed his spell in the Premier League.

Arias came on in the 32nd minute during Palmeiras’ 4-0 win over Capivariano, a result that secured a place in the state championship semi-finals. He had been presented just days earlier and only completed his first full training session with the squad on Wednesday.

Despite arriving as one of the headline names of the window, manager Abel Ferreira warned that no place would be handed out. The Portuguese coach insisted the team was already well structured and that Arias would have to earn his spot.

Still, the former Wolves man wasted little time.

Instant impact after Wolves spell

Around 12 minutes after entering the pitch, Arias received a pass from ex-Lazio ace Felipe Anderson, cut sharply inside and was brought down inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot, and former Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira converted to make it 3-0.

It was Arias’ only real chance to influence proceedings. However, his direct running and sharp decision-making stood out. For a player who struggled to shine during a difficult collective period at Wolves, it was an immediate statement.

After the match, Vitor Roque praised him. Roque himself has recently attracted interest from Premier League clubs, which adds extra weight to his comments.

“Arias is a true star. He’s a player like that will help the group a lot. It was only a little bit today, he won a penalty. The fans can expect that he will bring a lot of joy,” he said.

Different context from Molineux

Arias has previously explained that he could not show his best level at Wolves because the team as a whole was not performing well. In his view, the collective struggles at Molineux limited his individual impact. Now, the context is very different.

Palmeiras lead their state championship and also sit top of the national league. The side looks settled and confident. That stability contrasts with the environment Arias left in England.

Supporters were quick to react online. One fan wrote that Arias already showed he has “the highest football IQ in Palmeiras’ attack”. Another claimed that “in 10 minutes he showed he is an automatic starter”. A third added: “He already showed what he came for. Give him five more minutes and he would have scored”.

It was only a cameo. However, for Wolves watchers keeping an eye on their former player, the signs suggest he has landed in a far more favourable scenario to rebuild momentum.