Portugal calls up Man City's Matheus Nunes to replace injured Otavio

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Nunes will take the place of the injured Otavio for Portugal. EFE/selecaoportugal

The Portugal national team, via Twitter, announced the call-up of Matheus Nunes. The Manchester City player was included in the squad for the European Championship following the injury to Otavio, who underwent tests on Monday after his last match with Al Nassr.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has called up Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes on Monday to replace Otavio, who will miss Euro 2024 in Germany through injury. Otavio was injured in his last game for his club, Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi club Al Nassr, and after medical examinations by the federation it has been ruled impossible for him to recover in time for the European Championships.

Nunes, 25, has just completed his first season under Guardiola at Manchester City. He previously played for Wolverhampton, also in the Premier League, and Sporting Portugal, with whom he was a champion and where he did part of his training.

Like Otavio, Nunes was born in Brazil, but represents the Portuguese national team, for which he has played 12 games and scored two goals. He was also part of the squad for the last World Cup in Qatar 2022. Portugal begin their Euro preparations on Tuesday with a friendly against Finland at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.

They then face Luka Modric's Croatia at the Estadio Nacional de Oeiras, just outside Lisbon, on 8 August, before taking on Ireland in Aveiro, central Portugal, on 11 August. In Germany, Portugal will be in Group F, alongside Turkey, Czech Republic and Georgia.