Otávio ruled out of Euro 2024; Matheus Nunes called up as replacement

In partnership with

PortuGOAL

·3 June 2024

Otávio ruled out of Euro 2024; Matheus Nunes called up as replacement

Al Nassr midfielder Otávio is out of the 2024 European Championship. The 29-year-old midfielder, who has 20 caps for Portugal, picked up a muscle tear in his final club game of the season on Friday.

Curiously it is another Brazilian-born midfielder, Matheus Nunes, who has been called up as replacement.

OneFootball Videos

The omission of Nunes from the original squad surprised many given his ball-carrying ability marked him out as a player with a different skillset from Portugal’s other midfielders.

Indeed, Seleção coach Roberto Martínez explicitly outlined precisely that point after the Sweden friendly in March in which the Manchester City man impressed.

Nunes has played 12 times for Portugal having decided to represent the Seleção in 2021 instead of his native Brazil.