Wolves’ Daniel Podence was seen in tears, after Olympiacos played their final home game of the 2023/24 season on Wednesday – prompting speculation about his future.
Podence has been on loan with the Greek giants, after leaving Molineux last summer.
Wanderers had reportedly been looking to sell Podence, but suitable offers were not forthcoming at the time.
In the end, Wolves decided to facilitate a loan move back to his old club, while extending his contract at Molineux in the process to protect his value.
Podence has enjoyed a really good season over in Greece.
He has made 45 appearances across all competitions, scoring 14 goals and making 12 assists for teammates.
Olympiacos played at home for the final time this season on Wednesday night against AEK Athens – and after the game, Podence was very emotional…
Wolves star Daniel Podence seen in tears after final Olympiacos home game of 2023/24
Olympiacos took on AEK Athens on Wednesday night in their ninth game of the Super League play-off phase, and won 2-0.
With just one game left to play now against Panathinaikos, the club cannot win the league title as they are four points behind leaders PAOK.
But Olympiacos do have a European final to look forward to. They meet Italian club Fiorentina in the UEFA Europa Conference League at the end of the month.
It remains to be seen if that will be Podence’s final match for Olympiacos. Last night after the game with AEK, he cut a very emotional figure.
Previously, Podence has expressed his happiness being at Olympiacos.
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil suggested last week that loan players will return to the club this summer for ‘conversations’ about their future. He also stated that decision would be based around whether players want to be at the club, and if he thinks they have something to offer.
Olympiacos vice president plays down Podence tears
So Podence was full of emotion after the game with AEK but seemingly, it was not a reaction of a player knowing he isn’t coming back.
The club’s vice president Konstantinos Karapapas took to his Instagram Story afterwards to insist that Podence’s emotions were not linked to any decision to leave, and purely down to the occasion of it being the final home game.
He insists the player was ‘touched’ by the show of affection from the crowd, and wants Podence to stay beyond his loan. The rough translation of his message from his Story by Gate 7 International is: “Relax people. He was emotional. This was the last match in our home this season but he and we want him to play much more in our house.”
Podence himself has also said that his tears came about as a result of the occasion. Gate 7 quote him as saying: “It was the last game in the Karaiskakis this season so I got emotional.”
It remains to be seen what happens with Podence this summer. But given the events of last night, a permanent exit from Wolves this summer does seem somewhat likely.