Wolves training cancelled after Arokodare refuses to leave pitch in disciplinary row

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ pre-season preparations descended into chaos on Monday after striker Tolu Arokodare allegedly refused to leave the training pitch when instructed to do so, prompting manager César Peixoto to cancel the session entirely.

According to Wolves correspondent Nathan Judah, the Portuguese head coach asked the Nigerian forward to abandon the session due to what he deemed unacceptable disciplinary levels. However, the 25-year-old—who stands at 1.97 metres and weighs 102kg—declined to comply, leading Peixoto to halt the training session.

The standoff has escalated tensions at Compton Park, with the club reportedly bringing in additional security on Tuesday to prevent Arokodare from entering the training ground. The Nigerian international has also been omitted from the squad for Wednesday’s pre-season friendly against Maidenhead United as the club deals with the disciplinary matter.

The incident marks a dramatic breakdown in relations between Peixoto and Arokodare, who joined Wolves from Belgian club Genk in August 2025 for a fee of approximately €26 million (£24m). He signed a four-year contract with the option of a further year.

Arokodare endured a difficult debut campaign at Molineux, managing just three Premier League goals as Wolves suffered relegation to the Championship. He made 38 appearances across all competitions, scoring six goals and providing two assists.

The dispute comes amid intense transfer speculation surrounding the player. Serie A side Fiorentina have already had an initial bid rejected and are understood to have submitted an improved €22m loan-to-buy proposal. Turkish club Trabzonspor have also expressed interest, though Arokodare is believed to favour a move to one of Europe’s top five leagues. Wolves are understood to prefer a permanent sale to recoup much of the £24m they paid for the striker, though his valuation has made a full transfer difficult, leaving a loan move as the more realistic option.

Peixoto, who recently took charge at Wolves, has already earned praise from senior players for his demanding approach. New signing Kieran Trippier described the pre-season regime as “one of the most difficult of my career” while praising the manager’s discipline and commitment.

For now, Arokodare’s future at Molineux appears increasingly uncertain, with the player potentially facing further exclusion from the squad as the club considers its options.