New Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy has wasted no time ridding himself of any preconceived image people might have had of him as a dour, no-nonsense Yorkshireman.

Anyone who attended his first press conference on Monday soon realised Big Mick is a fun-loving guy with a more ready wit and sharp turn of phrase than one might expect of a former Barnsley centre-half.

There are not many managers who, even tongue in cheek, can get away with telling his new players that their first welcoming gesture to him should be to "kiss my arse".

But it was when McCarthy yesterday made his first move in the transfer market by signing 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Finkler that he truly revealed his cavalier, more flamboyant, side. McCarthy cannot claim to have instigated the deal, given that Finkler and fellow trialist Jay Soares were brought in by Glenn Hoddle to join Wolves' pre-season training camp in Spain three weeks ago - when Hoddle was set to walk out.

Finkler is not the first South American to come to the Midlands. That was Alberto Tarantini 28 years ago. Nor is he the first Brazilian. That honour went also to a Birmingham City signing, Marcelo (pictured), almost seven years ago. But for Big Mick's first signing to have been a Brazilian is heartening.

Wolves played some dire football in the second half of last season. If Finkler can find a few more moments of class like the free-kick he curled home in his new side's first pre-season friendly, at Keys Park in Hednesford, all hope is not lost.

Finkler, who holds an Italian passport and thus has no need for a work permit, has signed on a season-long loan from Brazilian top-flight club Juventude. There is also an exclusive option for Wolves to buy the midfielder for £100,000 before his loan ends next June. But seeing him in only one training session was enough for McCarthy to rubber-stamp the deal. "It's been in negotiation for a while," he said. "Based on what the staff have said, I am happy we've signed him."

Sadly, Finkler speaks no English but expressed through an interpreter his relief that Wolves had made up their minds, saying: "I am very pleased to be a Wolves player because I have been waiting for a decision. This is my first time away from Brazil and it is a bit complicated as I do not speak English but it is my objective to learn not just about English football but the English way of life."