Former West Brom boss reveals how he changed the fortunes of Wolves and Barcelona star

Former Premier League boss Tony Pulis has revealed the role he played in helping develop Adama Traore before his moves to Wolves and Barcelona.

Traore was signed by Wolves in the summer of 2018 after rediscovering his form at Middlesbrough. Traore had been signed by Boro a year before but following their relegation, the £10m signing was struggling to get in the team. The appointment of former West Brom Tony Pulis changed Traore's fortunes around however.

He said on Ben Foster's podcast: "I had Traore at Middlesbrough. Adama's fabulous. Honestly, what a lovely lad. Absolutely fantastic. I think he cost Middlesbrough £10m when I got there he wasn't in the team. I think it was our first or second training session I can remember Kempy (Dave Kemp) coming over to me and saying 'Have you seen that kid run?'.

"It was just like off the scale. It was just unbelievable. I said to Dave, 'Well he's go to be in the team hadn't he?'.

"What I used to do because Adama was very enthusiastic, lacked a little bit of self-belief and self confidence. What I used to do is he play him on my side both halves.

"You know, I would try and talk him through the game. I'd come in hoarse after the game but I would try and help him in that way. In the end you know I used to cuddle him after games because he did so well for us and he ended up having a great move."

Following Pulis appointment, he ended up getting 10 assists and five goals in 36 games that season. It caught the attention of Wolves and the rest was history, as he spent four-and-a-half seasons as a player at Molineux.

Traore earned a loan move back to Barcelona in the 2021/22 season, and then he joined Premier League rivals Fulham on a free transfer earlier this summer.