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From Rochdale to Premier League: the making of Mane
06th March, 2026 11:50 AM
Mateus Mane is reminiscing about playing with his older brother Marcos and his friends.
“They used to bully me off the ball. I feel that has helped me a lot, especially playing on concrete,” says the Wolves forward.
“I wasn’t used to good pitches. That’s probably why I’ve got loads of scars.”
The 18-year-old started to develop his skills in Moston, a suburb four miles northeast of Manchester, after moving to England with his mother from Portugal at the age of eight.
He knew no English, taking a year to understand the language, but playing with Marcos was the foundation for his rise to the Premier League.
Mane has been the brightest spot in Wolves’ bleak season, which will end in relegation, with Rob Edwards’ side having won just twice this season.
In his breakthrough campaign, he has started every Premier League game since making his full debut against Liverpool at Anfield in December.
He faces the Reds again in the FA Cup on Friday at Molineux, three days after Tuesday’s dramatic 2- 1 injury-time win in the Premier League.
Just weeks into his top-flight career, Mane is already used to big games.
Two years after being on the bench for Rochdale in the National League, Mane is already becoming a household name.
Soon after moving to England, he started to admire Manchester City pair Sergio Aguero and David Silva and tried to copy Neymar after watching YouTube clips.
After joining City Select Academy, Mane played for Manchester Cobras as a youngster, as well as Moston Brook FC.
There was little time for much more, yet he still gave his parents a run for their money.
“They’d say I was a bit cheeky as a child, but I was a young kid,” he said. “Every kid can be cheeky, and I’ll say I was hard work for my parents. Most of the time, I feel like I’ve grown up and matured.”
Mane still goes home on a Sunday, when fixtures allow, to go to church, and his maturity is showing on the pitch too after joining Rochdale’s academy in 2023 at the age of 15.
It was run then by Tony Ellis, now Wolves’ head of northern recruitment, with Mane asked to sign after his first training session.
“He lit the place up. He’s technical. His attributes were ridiculous for such a young boy,” recalled Ellis, who also recommended the frontman to Wolves.
“The way he received the ball, the way he drove, his decision making. Just a technically good footballer.
“He was happy in the environment, always had a ball, always communicating with players and staff.
“When you finished the session, he’d be the first one to go and put the cones away or collect the balls. He gained the trust of staff and players really quickly.”
Mane still feels the debt he owes Ellis, which led to him being an unused substitute at 16 for Rochdale against Dagenham in February 2024, before joining Wolves that summer after a successful trial.
It has been a steep rise since then, with former boss Vitor Pereira handing him his debut against Brighton in May last year, while Wolves assistant Harry Watling quickly identified his talent after he and current manager Rob Edwards arrived in November to take charge.
Mane has blossomed and likes to review his clips as soon as he leaves the pitch, forming a close working relationship with Watling.
In return he has scored two goals in 20 appearances, including his first in Wolves’ long awaited opening win of the season against West Ham in January.
Mane’s belief shines through as he added: “I’ve said to myself that one day I’ll play in the Premier League and score goals in the Premier League.
“My plan was to work hard and keep going every day, and it came sooner than I thought. I was grateful.
“Every young kid’s dream is to play in the Premier League. I jumped off my seat, took my bib off, ready to come on, and when I came on my nerves started rising.
“But when I won my first header my nerves disappeared. I was like, ‘Yeah, I deserve to be here. I want to be here.’
“As a youngster coming into a team with lots of senior and experienced players, it can be difficult. But if you earn their respect, you can tell them to keep going.
“We have this mindset not to give up, and I feel like that has worked out now. I think some of them probably listen to me when I tell them to keep pushing.”
International tug of war and a lot of noise
With Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid reportedly interested in a summer transfer, Mane’s form has also sparked a battle between Portugal and England over his international future.
Both countries are monitoring him closely, with Portugal boss Roberto Martinez having a close relationship with Wolves technical director Matt Jackson. The two previously played together at Wigan.
England Under 21 boss Lee Carsley is also watching closely, and Mane, who already represents England Under 18s, will soon have a decision to make.
“He’s got a really high ceiling because of his mentality, his quality and the fact that he’s still developing,” said Wolves boss Edwards.
“He can go a long way. It has been a really good start for him, but that is all it is.
“He’s getting a lot of headlines, and there is a lot of noise around him. There are not many 18-year-olds in the Premier League doing what he’s doing right now, especially in a team that has struggled this season.
“He has made a real impact for us, and he has a very bright future ahead of him.”
