Welcome Back Again: Adama Traoré Is Back…………………read more.
His blistering speed, skillful dribbling, and immense strength made him unstoppable when at full stride. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp once hailed him as “unplayable,” but despite his ability to terrorize defenses, the 28-year-old often struggled with the most crucial aspect of his game: the final product.
Traoré frequently weaved past defenders and got into promising positions, only to misplace a cross or fail to convert chances, which was the most frustrating part of his play. Had he been able to pair his extraordinary physical gifts with composure in the final third, he could have dominated the football world.
The one season where he came closest to realizing his full potential was 2019/20, when, at 23, he scored four goals and provided nine assists in the league—his best campaign so far.
Unfortunately, he never built on that success, and despite Wolves’ efforts to retain him, he signed with Fulham on a free transfer last summer.
Last season, Traore was still on the five-year contract he had initially signed when Wolves were promoted to the Premier League in 2018. He earned £40,000 a week, which, while substantial, was far less than some of his teammates, who were making three times that amount.
The Athletic reported that Wolves had offered the dynamic winger a £100,000-per-week deal, a figure that was also reportedly on the table during the peak of his career. However, when Wolves underwent a fire sale to balance the books last summer, Traore was among those to depart, leaving many to wonder what might have happened had he had the chance to fully work with Gary O’Neil.
O’Neil has been transformative for several Wolves players, most notably Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri, who have flourished under his management after struggling with previous coaches. It’s possible that if O’Neil had been able to work with Traore, a similar resurgence could have occurred.
While there were no guarantees, O’Neil has demonstrated an ability to bring out the best in his squad, and Traore might have thrived under his guidance. Though he recently scored his first goal for Fulham, he has only made eight Premier League appearances this season due to a hamstring injury.
As Traore prepares to face his former club for the first time tomorrow, some may wonder if he would have been better off remaining at Molineux.
