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Former Manchester City forward Nolito believes Wolves star Adama Traore could transition back to life in LaLiga if his form in the Premier League continues.

Sportsmail revealed earlier this week Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is set to raid his former club with an offer for the £45million-rated wide man.

The 25-year-old also talked up the prospect of a return to Barcelona in June before playing just 13 minutes for semi-finalists Spain at Euro 2020.

Wolves star Adama Traore would fit in at any side that wants him, according to former Manchester City forward Nolito

But Celta Vigo star Nolito - who will line up against Traore when the Spanish side take on the West Midlands club in pre-season friendly on Saturday -  believes his compatriot has the quality to play for whichever club firms up their interest.

'To be honest, he is still young and has a lot of potential,' former Barcelona forward Nolito exclusively told Sportsmail.

'Can he play in LaLiga? Of course he can, if he continues playing good seasons in the Premier League I am sure he could play in LaLiga or with any team that wants him.' 

Asked about whether Traore was underused by Spain boss Luis Enrique this summer, Nolito remained coy, adding: 'There is a lot of competition in the Spanish national side and a lot of very good players. Sometimes you play, and other times you don't. 

Traore is interesting Tottenham and talked up the prospect of re-joining Barcelona in June

'They have the best players in Spain and Europe and some of the best in the world in their positions, so it is very difficult to play in the first XI and play in the national side.'

Nolito, 34, was a key member for Spain at Euro 2016, but the former Sevilla star has not represented his nation since a 2-2 friendly draw against England in November that year. 

However, he has not given up hope of representing his country at the Qatar World Cup next year - six years on from his last appearance for La Roja - despite the encouraging performances this summer from a younger crop of players. 

'Anything can happen in football. Anything is possible. Dreams are there to grasp and make them real. 

Nolito - who will face Traore in Celta's friendly against Wolves - last played for Spain in 2016

'When I was a kid, I could never have dreamed that I would play at Barcelona with [Pep] Guardiola, [Lionel] Messi and [David] Villa, with Dani Alves, Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta.

'I also played in the Euros and in the Champions League and Premier League and the Portuguese league. I have fulfilled my dreams, so why can't I play in the World Cup?

'Of course it is going to be very difficult, there is a lot of competition, but who knows? Maybe this year I score lots and lots of goals and Luis Enrique calls me up to the national side.

'It is hard but who knows? Nobody knows what's around the corner in life. It can be both positive and negative.'

That statement of not knowing just what the game has in store for you next appears to particularly ring true for Nolito's former Sevilla team-mate Jules Kounde.

But the 34-year-old has not given up hope of making Luis Enrique's squad for the World Cup

Chelsea remain in discussions with the Andalusian side over a deal for the France centre-back, and Nolito admits further interest from European giants like Arsenal and Manchester United is merited because the 'sky is the limit' for the 22-year-old. 

'I am not surprised [about the interest], I think he is a good player,' Nolito added.

'He is a really nice guy, he wants to improve and he is a great professional and is still very young.

'The sky is the limit for him. Normally there are no limits in these things, the majority try to improve as much as they can. I know him and have spent time with him, and I know he wants to improve.

'He is a great central defender so I am not surprised that big European clubs are looking to sign him up, but he is at a big club at the moment.'

Nolito also insisted 'the sky is the limit' for Chelsea target and Sevilla defender Jules Kounde 

However, Nolito's current club Celta have plenty of examples among their ranks of players who have struggled - due to one reason or another - to make the grade at European giants.

Iago Aspas scored just once in 15 games during his first and only season at Liverpool before just two LaLiga goals for Sevilla in 2014-15, while injury problems and competition for places kept Denis Suarez from featuring at Unai Emery's Arsenal and Barcelona.

Nolito meanwhile made just five appearances for the Catalan outfit and then struggled to adapt to the English language and culture.

He also criticised City boss Pep Guardiola for the lack of faith he showed in him having brought him to the Premier League as his second signing for the club.

But the trio have now found their home in Galicia's largest city on Spain's northwest coast, which the forward has described as 'the best times' in his career due to the confidence he and his team-mates have experienced at the club. 

Nolito is set to enter his second year in his second spell at Celta alongside Iago Aspas (right)

'Aspas is from this region, he is at home and he was unfortunate that perhaps at Liverpool and Sevilla he didn't get the amount of time to play there that he would have liked.

'The players play well when they receive the confidence and the trust from the coach and are given time to play. There are big clubs like Liverpool and Sevilla where there is more competition. That is true, you have to expect that.

'The same probably occurred with Denis Suarez at Barcelona. In my case, I am grateful to all of the clubs I have played for but I would really have to say that Celta is where I have enjoyed the best times in my career.'

Nolito believes the trust from the club has helped him and Denis Suarez (left) thrive

This is Nolito's second spell at Celta after a three-year period prior to his move to City, and the only change from his former self that he sees is 'that I am getting older.' But it is clear that the burning desire remains to enjoy returning to the club.

'I have felt the warmth of the club, the chairman, the fans and the results have also been good for me here. I have to value that, and whether I stay or leave, at the end of the day I have to say Celta is the club of my life.

'I am going to be eternally grateful for what the club has given to me, and I am going to try and return something to the club through personal sacrifice and hard work on the pitch.

'I am here to help Celta grow, it is my club at the moment and it is the club that I love, it is the one I loved the most of all the clubs I have played for. It is where I am really enjoying myself.'

And the former City forward has described the Galician outfit as 'the club of my life' 

Nolito joined Celta last summer when the club almost paid the ultimate collective sacrifice with relegation from LaLiga, finishing just a point above Leganes who occupied the final spot in the drop zone.

But the foundations appeared to have been in motion to enable a 'humble, hard-working and ambitious team' to become one that was capable of replicating their achievements from four years ago.

Celta reached the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2016-17 before defeat by Jose Mourinho's Manchester United, and were within one position of adding to their European history this season.

But Nolito - who scored seven goals and laid on six assists in 2020-21 - is confident that Celta can aim higher than finishing eighth this season under Eduardo Coudet, despite the financial advantages that some clubs in Spain hold over them.

'The ultimate objective is to perhaps finish in the top seven,' he added.

He is hoping his side can qualify for the Europa League, as they did when they faced Manchester United in 2017

'There are teams that will be opting for those places due to their budget but Celta is a very ambitious team, hard-working team with a very humble mentality and we are going to fight all the way to the end.

'It is not going to be easy. We are trying to ensure our fans, our families and us players can enjoy these games, but we have to be focused game to game. Hopefully we can do well.

'We have got great players like Aspas, Denis Suarez, Santi Mina, other players that perhaps have not had the continuity in Celta over the last couple of years that they would have liked.

'But we are a humble, hard-working and ambitious team, we want to grow as a team. Sometimes things don't work out the way we would like, or the way the team would like.

'But all we can do is knuckle down, work hard and do our job and be aware of what our reality is like as a club.' 

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