Exclusive interview part one: Fabio Silva opens up on turbulent summer and love for Wolves fans

The Express & Star exclusively revealed in June that Turkish giants Galatasaray had joined the race to sign the striker, while Ajax, Sevilla, Roma and AC Milan all showed concrete interest in Silva.

The player himself took part in a pre-season interview where he was cryptic about his future, but for the first time Silva has now spoken about a turbulent summer that ultimately saw him remain at Wolves, in an exclusive sit-down interview with the Express & Star.

“Of course, it was difficult (this summer),” he said. “Not so difficult because I had the Euros with Portugal, so my head wasn’t thinking about transfers. If I didn’t have the Euros, maybe it would have been more confusing.

“After the Euros there was a lot of noise about whether I would stay or go, but I had some good points here at Wolves to stay.”

It is clear, as Silva sits relaxed in the club’s auditorium at Compton, that the player is pleased with his surroundings.

But that does not deter him from being incredibly honest about his situation and desire to leave Wolves just months earlier, as he was asked how close he truly was to departing.

“Really close,” Silva added. “At PSV some news came that my idea was not to continue here and of course people read that, but I had to come for pre-season because I’m a Wolves player.

“I came to training but my idea was to wait for something to go, I’m not going to lie. I was training in pre-season in the Algarve with (Julen) Lopetegui, who is an amazing coach, and he spoke with me to give me some good points to stay.

“When I said to my agent I wanted to stay, Lopetegui was one of the keys to staying, but after he goes.

“Matt Hobbs was a key part of the project to stay. I think Wolves have a very good person behind the club. I like the way he spoke with me and took care of me.

“Of course, my president Jeff Shi is amazing. He always takes care of me and speaks with me like a son. I feel the love from him, amazing.

“But I was really close to leaving, of course. My agent tried to see the best solution outside of Wolves because last season was amazing for me outside the club and I wanted to continue this development.

“I wanted to continue to play, to feel happy and contribute to the team. But after these three people (spoke to me), and Gary (O’Neil) too, who is very good and gave me confidence to start, I wanted to stay.

“And the fans too, of course. I cannot forget the fans because they always push me.

“There were a lot of conversations with these four people. More with Matt Hobbs, who was the biggest part of me staying here at Wolves, because of the way he spoke with me and tried to change my head, my ideas.

“If it wasn’t for him, maybe I wouldn’t be here to speak with you.

“I have to give credit to Matt Hobbs because he’s one of the best parts for me to stay here.”

Detailed in the second part of this Silva interview, which will be published tomorrow, the 21-year-old gives supporters an insight into himself as a person and his family-oriented life.

Silva comes across as the kind of player that needs an arm around the shoulder, but it is not something he hides from as he seeks to repay the faith shown in him

He added: “All the players want to be loved by the fans, the coach, the staff and the people around the training ground.

“I feel this, but of course I feel happier if I play than if I don’t play. I would be lying to you if I said I prefer to stay on the bench!

“I want to play every game, start every game and contribute to the team, to prove to myself and my coach.

“I have nothing to prove to other people, but I want to prove to the coach, to Jeff and Matt Hobbs, because they are the most important people.”

Alongside the uncertainty surrounding Silva’s future this summer was the mystery of the number nine shirt.

Raul Jimenez left it available when he signed for Fulham and Silva seemed to be the natural fit to take the iconic shirt.

The Express & Star previously reported that it was agreed Silva would wait for the number due to his future being unresolved. The forward was then awarded the number once the transfer window closed.

“That was a problem too!” Fabio laughed. “At the beginning I asked for the number but they didn’t give me it because we didn’t know if I would stay or not.

“We had the conversation that they would give me the number nine if I stay, but when Matt Hobbs asked me if I was staying I didn’t 100 per cent have the answer.

“We waited until I knew the answer and when I decided to stay, we took care of it and they gave me the number nine. I am very glad and very proud.”

As Silva alluded to in a previous answer, his relationship with the Wolves supporters is incredibly important to him.

Regardless of criticism or social media backlash, Wolves fans have consistently backed the striker at matches and were chanting his name during the recent fixture against Liverpool while the player was on the bench.

That backing is another source of pride for the player, who reveals the support he received in pre-season from the fans played a big part in him deciding to stay at Wolves.

Silva added: “The fans are one of the secrets for me to stay because if I’m playing or not, they support me. They are behind me and that’s most important.

“I’ll tell you the truth, during games in pre-season when I played, they sang a lot to me and that was one of the keys for me staying. I need this love, to stay here and give back to them.

“My message (to them) is that they can always expect from me my best, to run for the team and help the team with my movements

“I always try to give assists and score. Sometimes when I miss, don’t think it’s on purpose because it’s not. On the pitch I don’t think there’s someone that wants to score more than me.

“I always try to give my best for a brilliant game, so you can expect that until the final (minute) to protect the pack.”

Silva now turns his attention to a big season under O’Neil.

Wolves have one win from five Premier League games and Silva, who has scored in the Carabao Cup, is searching for his first league goal of the campaign.

After a difficult summer fraught with big decisions the striker now wants to repay Wolves and the fans, but he insists he does that without pressure and with his full focus on the present – and a specific focus on the upcoming game with Luton.

“I don’t feel pressure to score,” he said. “In my life, things always come naturally, so that will continue if I focus on myself and my work at the training ground and at home, with my people, with good energy around me, things will happen.

“I like to think about the present. In the present I want to have an amazing season and help Wolves to be in the best position in the table.

“I want to help Wolves with goals and assists, as much as possible.

“In the future we will see. The future is not important if you don’t think about the present, so if the present is good, the future will of course be good.

“How much I do in the present will be better in the future, so the present is the most important thing, and that is to win against Luton, score against Luton and give assists against Luton.”