Martim Fernandes withdraws from the under-21s due to fitness issues

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Portal dos Dragões

·22 September 2026

Martim Fernandes withdraws from the under-21s due to fitness issues

Martim Fernandes has left the national under-21 team training camp after being called up by Luís Freire.

The 20-year-old defender was substituted in the 69th minute of the derby against Benfica and is dealing with physical limitations. After being assessed by the FPF’s Health and Performance Department, he was deemed unfit to take part in the team’s work over the coming days.

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João Afonso, FC Porto’s goalkeeper, is therefore now the club’s only representative among the national coach’s call-ups for the matches against Bulgaria on 25 September, Gibraltar on 30 September, and Czechia on 6 October, in the qualifying campaign for the 2027 European Championship.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.