Manchester City signed Matheus Nunes on deadline day for £53m, after the Portugal international had stopped training at Wolves to force a move through.

Matheus Nunes says he will one day explain the ‘real reasons’ behind his move to Manchester City, in a cryptic farewell post to Wolves fans.

Nunes completes a £53m deadline day transfer to City after effectively going on strike at Molineux to try and force through a move. The Portugal international had stopped training and was unavailable for two games while City worked on a transfer.

Upon arriving at City, Nunes said City provided him with the opportunity to play at a ‘big club in England’, while Wolves boss Gary O’Neil and Sporting Director Matt Hobbs both expressed disappointment at how Nunes handled the transfer.

Taking to Instagram two days on from his move, Nunes wrote a lengthy goodbye to Wolves, saying ‘however incomprehensible’ his exit may seem, he will explain his actions in future so that ‘everyone without exception’ will understand him.

Nunes wrote: “The time has come to say goodbye to the club that allowed me to play in the best League in the world and to the club for whom I have always had deep admiration and respect. Thanks to Wolves, the staff, my teammates and especially the extraordinary fans, for their unwavering and heart-warming enthusiasm and support.

“I really appreciate the meaning of the word commitment and that was what was always present in my daily attitudes over a year that will remain in my memory forever. I could have a lot to say about the real reason for my departure and how it happened, but I will only say that the fans deserve all my respect, affection and deep admiration.

“Everything happens for a reason, however incomprehensible it may seem at first sight, but the future, I am sure, will clarify it and probably, at that time, everyone without exception will understand the reason for this last troubled week. Thank you Wolves fans, I will never forget you.”

In another post, Nunes thanked City fans for his warm welcome, writing: “I am delighted to be here and to be part of this amazing club. I will do my best to reach our goals and to make you guys enjoy my football. Thank you for the warm reception!”

Nunes was an unused substitute in the Premier League win over Fulham, with assistant manager Juanma Lillo explaining pre-match that the new signing had not trained with his teammates in the build-up to the game. The new number 27 received a positive welcome from the stands when he emerged for the pre-game warm-ups, and later when he was warming up on the sidelines as a substitute.