Mario Lemina was involved in a heated altercation with West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen following Wolves’ 2-1 defeat on Monday. The situation escalated when Lemina pushed his own teammates who were attempting to calm him down, and then squared up to Wolves assistant coach Shaun Derry. As a result, Nelson Semedo has been named Wolves’ new captain, with manager Gary O’Neil confirming that the incident against West Ham prompted a discussion about the leadership within the team.
“Mario’s fine,” O’Neil said when addressing the situation. “It was a conversation, nothing more than that. The key takeaway is that we need to ensure we’re getting the best out of everyone. The events the other night sparked the conversation, but it was one we needed to have.”
O’Neil elaborated on the matter, explaining that he and Lemina have reached a mutual understanding about how to move forward. “We addressed it earlier in the week, so since then, the focus has been fully on Ipswich. Situations like this can be challenging, but they can also lead to positive outcomes. I feel that’s the case here,” he said.
The Wolves manager emphasized his respect for Lemina and his potential contribution to the team moving forward. “When Mario is at his best on the pitch, his level is exceptional, and he’s still going to play a significant role for us. He’ll remain part of the senior group that leads the team, but right now, we feel it’s best for Nelson to take on the captaincy.”
O’Neil expressed confidence that this adjustment would benefit the team, ensuring both strong leadership and a productive role for Lemina in the squad.
