Underrated Gem: A Closer Look at Carlos Forbs

Born in Sintra, Portugal, Forbs was initially part of Sporting CP’s academy, but when his family moved over to England in 2014 when the winger was just 10-years old, he was signed up by Manchester City’s youth set up.

During his junior career at the Etihad Campus, Forbs – or Carlos Borges as he was known then – produced goal and assist rates which were well above the norm for most youth prospects. From his under-18s, UEFA Youth League and under-21 appearances, the winger racked up 55 goals and 42 assists in 79 games while wearing sky blue – including bagging a brace in a 4-1 win over Steve Davis’ Wolves under-18s – which worked out at either a goal or assist every 56 minutes.

Although he never made a senior appearance for City, Forbs, who has represented Portugal throughout the youth age groups and played alongside new Wolves teammate Rodrigo Gomes, headed out for his first taste of men’s football last summer, joining Ajax, where he has achieved nine goal contributions in 38 appearances.

Playing style

An electric winger throughout his time at Man City’s academy, Forbs continues to show stunning pace and dynamism since he transferred to the men’s game. The 20-year-old is still young but has been a physical threat throughout his footballing life.

At Wolves, Gary O’Neil requested the recruitment team looked at bringing a pacey winger to the club who can be a threat in one-v-ones and offer an outlet on the counter, similar to what Pedro Neto gave the team before his departure to Chelsea this summer.

Forbs was thought to suit the style of player O’Neil wanted, with his speed, directness and confidence offering another good weapon for the head coach to choose from. The winger is also equally willing to use his pace defensively as well, with his pressing from the front as well as working back to help the team.

Recruitment

Wolves’ first report on Forbs came when he was playing for Portugal under-16s in February 2020, but at that time, he was already highly thought of at City. But despite believing the player was out of their grasp due to his affiliation at the Etihad, Wolves’ recruitment team continued to monitor him alongside other talents throughout the coming the years.

During the 2020/21 season, Forbs was producing ‘frightening’ numbers for City’s under-18 team, especially for a winger, raising Wolves’ attention to the player once more, and the recruitment team believed if an opportunity would arise to bring him to Molineux, then the club we would be ready. City didn’t make the winger available until the end of the 2022/23 season, but the price they were asking for an 18-year-old without a single minute of senior football, at a time when Wolves were battling against PSR regulations, meant the deal was not possible.

However, the recruitment team continued to monitor Forbs last season at Ajax, and despite it being a very turbulent year for the Dutch club, the winger still contributed with a goal or assist every 137 league minutes. His performances in the Netherlands displayed the positives of why Wolves liked him, and his positive outings this pre-season confirmed what the recruitment team felt would be an astute signing. When the opportunity arose this summer to bring him to the Black County, there was no hesitation.

Attitude

Forbs is from a very humble background. Growing up in the north-west, the winger has been brought up with a mixture of English culture as well as his own Portuguese background, which will see him perfectly suited for the Wolves dressing room.

Everyone Wolves’ recruitment team have spoken to at his former clubs, including staff and players, past and present, have always spoken highly of him, with some staff saying he is one of the best players they’ve coached or worked with in terms of high working ethic and attitude. Having a player who is hard working is something which O’Neil wants – as a minimum – and has asked of from all of the new incomings since his arrival.

Having spent his teenage years in Manchester, Forbs speaks fluent English, while he also appreciates English football, English culture, and he already has friends in both the Portuguese camp in Rodrigo Gomes, as well as the English group, having played with Tommy Doyle at City. The winger will also count as a homegrown player once he turns 21, which will support Wolves’ quota. The recruitment team admitted all of these positive points relating to his attitude, as well as his footballing ability, made the decision to bring Forbs to Molineux ‘even easier’.