Julen Lopetegui orders Raul Jimenez to put club before country

‘I am worried about him’: Julen Lopetegui lays down the law by ordering Raul Jimenez to put club before country after being called-up for Mexico World Cup squad…despite not playing for Wolves since August with groin injury

  • New Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui has told Raul Jimenez to put the club first 
  • The striker is set to be named in Mexico’s squad for this month’s World Cup 
  • Jimenez hasn’t played for Wolves since the end of August with groin injury 
  • Wolves are bottom of the Premier League having only scored eights goals so far 

Julen Lopetegui marked his first public appearance as Wolves manager by ordering Mexico forward Raul Jimenez to put club before country.

Jimenez has not played for Wolves due to a groin injury since August 31 and angered his club last week when he was named on the bench for Mexico’s pre-tournament friendly with Iraq.

With Mexico due to finalise their 26-man party for the tournament on Monday, Lopetegui revealed he had held talks with Jimenez to make it clear where his priorities should lie.

Raul Jimenez has been asked to put club before country by new Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui 

‘I have spoken to Raul about Mexico and I am worried about him,’ said Lopetegui, who has signed a three-year deal with the Premier League’s bottom club. ’He hasn’t played for Wolves for a long time.

’We need him at his best and I hope he will come back in this way. The most important thing is not the World Cup. It’s Wolves.

‘We have to defend our aims. I have respect for his situation and for Mexico but my focus is Wolves.’

Wolves paraded their new boss Julen Lopetegui today after finally confirming him as manager

It is third time lucky for Wolves, who tried to hire Lopetegui both in 2016 and again last month, immediately after Bruno Lage was sacked.

Lopetegui had just been dismissed by Sevilla and initially turned down Wolves’ approach, mainly due to a family matter. But when QPR boss Michael Beale also rejected the job, Wolves moved again for Lopetegui and this time he accepted their offer.

‘I hope we will sign new players in January but for now it is about working with the group we have,’ added the 56-year-old. ‘We believe in this squad.’




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