Sky Sports reports that Raúl Jiménez's return to Wolves this summer has rekindled fans' cherished memories and significantly boosted team morale.

When Raúl Jiménez first arrived, Wolves were rediscovering themselves. The team secured promotion, then reached European competition, and strong sides found themselves humbled at Molineux. Now he returns to a Wolves side that has fallen into decline, and this reunion has injected fresh energy into the club.

After three years apart, Raúl Jiménez's official return sparked an unmistakable public response. The emotional announcement video, particularly poignant following the team's relegation, struck a chord and immediately shifted the atmosphere.

Social media data tells the story. Following Jiménez's signing, the top ten most-engaged Wolves posts across all platforms were all about him. The club has been overwhelmed by this level of engagement. They cannot recall social media posts generating such interaction numbers in the past.

This is merely the social media response. In reality, Raúl Jiménez shirts are everywhere—not just Wolves kits, but his name specifically. Even during a preseason friendly against Real Sociedad where he didn't play, fans still chanted his name, and both home and away versions of his shirt were prominently visible throughout the stadium.

In the club shop, Raúl Jiménez shirt sales are over 250% higher than last year's most popular player shirt. The fans' affection for him likely traces back to the Steve Bull era, though of course shirts didn't have names on the back then.

None of this is surprising. Over recent seasons, fans have chanted Raúl Jiménez's name—not merely hoping for his return, but as a symbol of an era that has slipped away alongside him.

In reality, it was a lament about Wolves' decline, sometimes coupled with another chant directed at ownership: "You sold the team, now sell the club." But during the final home game against Fulham last season, the mood began to shift toward celebration.

After that match, Raúl Jiménez revealed to local journalists that discussions had indeed taken place about a contract bringing him home. The excitement this sparked propelled events forward and gave fans hope amid the gloom of relegation.

For a player who scored 40 goals for Wolves, if all this seems somewhat exaggerated, context matters. Raúl Jiménez was the team's leading scorer, and Wolves finished in the top seven for two consecutive seasons for the first time since the Stan Cullis era.

To find a Wolves player who exceeded Raúl Jiménez's 27 goals in the 2019/20 season, you must go back to 1989. That record holder was the people's hero Bull, who achieved it in the English third division. To find a comparable top-flight record, you must reach back to 1973 and "Golden Boy" John Richards.

In Wolves' Premier League era, Raúl Jiménez's 40 goals remain more than any other player. He scored 57 goals across all competitions, and those cup and European goals are part of his legacy. He didn't just score away at Tottenham; he scored in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

More significantly, Raúl Jiménez is Wolves' all-time leading goalscorer in European competition. For fans who traveled away with the team, these memories are as important as the numbers. His two goals away to Crusaders and two away to Pyunik Yerevan remain vivid. He scored both home and away against Torino—a journey still cherished by supporters. He scored both home and away against Slovan Bratislava. He even scored in the pouring rain at Braga, an adventure still sung about among Wolves fans. All of this matters.

Later that year, Raúl Jiménez suffered a fractured skull in a collision with David Luiz during an away match at Arsenal. During the pandemic, the silence in stadiums was already eerie. That day felt even more ominous. It was a shocking blow.

The recovery was long and difficult, leaving physical and psychological scars. Raúl Jiménez's peak condition at Wolves may never have fully returned. Since then, he hasn't scored a headed goal for Wolves—though Molineux may yet witness another precious moment of redemption.

But while the injury affected his performance, it strengthened the bond between him and the club off the pitch. Raúl Jiménez and his family have always been candid about how much external support meant to them. That same love has brought them back here.

This return is also a family decision. Raúl Jiménez's wife, Daniela, is a mother of two who adapted well to the city and won fans' hearts with her efforts to learn the local culture. The couple even revealed the gender of their second child at Molineux.

Raúl Jiménez's first departure was not a satisfying ending. Under Lopetegui, he lost his starting place. After the Everton match in May 2023, he sat on the bench in tears, effectively saying goodbye without playing.

Now this gives him the chance to set that right and proves he remains part of the emotional fabric of the club. The death of his former teammate Jota adds another layer of poignancy to this return. All parties hope to cherish this reunion.

Can he continue contributing goals? Three goals in four World Cup matches provide enough reason for optimism. Raúl Jiménez has maintained excellent fitness this summer, suggesting he remains not far from peak condition to handle the demands of the Championship.

Raúl Jiménez is also among the bookmakers' favorites for the division's top scorer. His penalty record is remarkably consistent. No player in Premier League history has converted more penalties with a 100% success rate. If he stays healthy, scoring at least 20 goals this season looks like a safe bet.

Whether Wolves receive sufficient backing to return the team to a higher league remains another question. With new manager Cásser Feiçouty at the helm, squad composition remains unclear, and questions persist about whether the team can successfully change its approach. Success is never guaranteed.

But in some ways, this discussion misses the point. Bull himself played for Wolves in the second division for 10 years without managing to lift them up. Yet during those 10 years, he cemented legendary status, continued scoring, and created countless memories.

Bull remained. Raúl Jiménez has returned.

Wolves have reclaimed their number 9.

AI 번역.

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