Nafisa‘I Wish I Had Him Sooner’ – Vitor Pereira Reveals Regret Over Pablo Sarabia’s Wolves Exit After Emotional Farewell
Pablo Sarabia’s departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers has left manager Vitor Pereira with a bittersweet feeling, as the Portuguese tactician opened up about his only regret following the Spaniard’s transfer exit. Sarabia, who spent two and a half seasons at Molineux, exited the club after the expiration of his contract and has since joined Qatari side Al-Arabi, reuniting with his former PSG teammate Marco Verratti.
Though the 33-year-old wasn’t always a guaranteed starter under Pereira, his quality, intelligence, and creativity on the pitch earned him respect and admiration. Despite sometimes frustrating fans with inconsistency, Sarabia’s moments of brilliance—such as his key role in Wolves’ dramatic win over Tottenham during the 2023/24 season—made him a standout presence in the squad.
In an interview with *Marca*, Pereira praised the Spanish playmaker, calling him “very intelligent” and “a player who understands the game very well.” However, he also acknowledged the Premier League’s physicality wasn’t a perfect fit for Sarabia’s style. Yet, it was not Sarabia’s adaptation to the league that left the biggest impression on Pereira—it was the timing of their partnership.
Reflecting on their brief six-month spell together, Pereira admitted:
> “It’s a pleasure for me to have coached him; my only regret is not having managed him when he was younger.”
That sense of missed opportunity looms large, as Sarabia joined Wolves from Paris Saint-Germain at age 30, arriving during the twilight of his European career. His overall contribution—20 goal involvements in 77 appearances across all competitions—highlights a player who, when in top form, was a creative force difficult to contain.
Now set to begin a new chapter in the Middle East, Sarabia will look to bring his vision and experience to Al-Arabi, while Wolves face the difficult task of replacing a unique player whose combination of technical ability, game intelligence, and professionalism is not easily replicated.
Nafisa
