The signing that meant more than football
The most romantic signing of the summer came early. Raul Jimenez is back at Wolves. And for the club's supporters, they are not so much welcoming back a former favourite but revisiting a chapter of their own lives. For a generation, Jimenez is the Wolves No 9.
He was the striker who arrived just when Wolves were rediscovering themselves. Promotion became Europe. The best came to Molineux and were beaten. Now, he is returning with Wolves at a low ebb. But this second coming has rejuvenated the club.
The evidence has been overwhelming since Jimenez's signing was confirmed after three seasons away. It was not just the emotional announcement video, although that certainly captured the imagination, instantly transforming the mood after relegation.
Consider the social media numbers. Since signing for Wolves, each of the club's top 10 most engaged posts have been about Jimenez. The club has been blown away by the response across platforms. Their most engaged Instagram post anyone can remember.
And that is just social media. Out in the real world, Jimenez shirts are everywhere. Not Wolves shirts, Jimenez shirts. For the pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad, where his name was chanted even in his absence, there were Mexico tops - home and away.
Inside the club shop, the Jimenez jersey is outselling last year's most popular player by more than 250 per cent. You probably need to go back to Steve Bull to find a figure so beloved by the supporters but the shirts did not have names on the back in those days.
None of which should come as much of a surprise. Jimenez's name has been sung regularly by supporters in recent seasons and it had little to do with the hope that he would come back. He, along with others, had come to symbolise what had been lost.
It was a lament to Wolves' decline, sometimes accompanied by another chant aimed at owners Fosun.
