Midfielder Mario Lemina wants to leave Wolves, says head coach Vitor Pereira.
The 31-year-old missed Saturday’s FA Cup win over Bristol City but Pereira said on Tuesday, in his pre-match press conference before the Premier League game against Newcastle, that Lemina was fit and available.
However, speaking after the match at St James’ Park, which Wolves lost 3-0, Pereira said Gabon international Lemina came to see him after the press conference and expressed a desire to leave.
“I can’t bring a player who tells me he is not in the mental condition to help the team. He wants to leave,” said Pereira.
“I don’t know what happened before me, but with this energy and this mentality, I don’t need him. I prefer to play with another player.
“I don’t have anything against Lemina or any issues with him.
“He said to me that he wants to leave and he communicated this decision one month ago to the club.”
Lemina was club captain at the start of the season, but was stripped of the role by former manager Gary O’Neil after he had an altercation with West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen following the final whistle in their 2-1 defeat at London Stadium.
O’Neil said at the time that Lemina “would remain part of the squad’s leadership group”.
Lemina has only played 31 minutes since Pereira was appointed as O’Neil’s successor on 19 December.
Wolves are 18th and sit in the relegation zone on goal difference after the defeat at Newcastle.
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