West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes is “sad” about being snubbed from Portugal’s World Cup squad, according to U21 manager Luis Freire.
Fernandes was not selected by Portugal for the 2026 World Cup despite breaking into their senior set-up only a few months before the tournament.
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That did feel somewhat harsh given Fernandes has largely been brilliant for West Ham United this season, although Roberto Martinez’s squad is packed full of talent.
Fernandes was instead called up to the Portugal U21 squad for their upcoming games against Northern Ireland.
Portugal U21 manager offers Fernandes hope for the future
Speaking in quotes sources by leading Portuguese outlet A Bola, Freire said: “Players like Mateus Fernandes, Mora, and Quenda have already been in the senior team and are very proud to represent the national team at any level.
“They have proven themselves in Portuguese football and have done work that should make them proud. Today, they may be a little sad about not going to the World Cup, but they are certain that they are already the present and can be the future of the national team.”
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When speaking about Fernandes more generally, the coach said: “He was elected one of the best young players of the year in the Premier League.
“He’s someone who has had a major impact in one of the best leagues in the world. He has great tactical versatility; he can play as a 6, an 8, or a 10.
“He’s a player with a physical presence and experience, for his age, one of the most important players in our group. He’s our team captain, he’s had exemplary behavior, and tactically he’s in the best league in the world to be at the highest level. He’s growing a lot, he had a great performance, and he’s becoming more and more complete.”
Portugal, of course, will be co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup. The tournament will be played across Portugal, Morocco and Spain, with some of the centenary matches played in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina.
Though four years is clearly a very long time in football, the upward trajectory upon which Fernandes has embarked gives him a strong chance of playing for his country in that tournament.
The midfielder has broadly been an excellent signing for West Ham and has been tipped to join one of the world’s biggest clubs regardless of what happens on the final day of the Premier League season.
Being overlooked is a blow, however, and hopefully he can channel that disappointment into one final push for West Ham.
Sunday looks to be his very last game for the club, and it would be brilliant to see him sign off in style. His time will come for Portugal, but his time has come to star for West Ham.
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