The system at its finest: Pote fit, called up, unused, Martínez agreed | OneFootball

Pedro Gonçalves was medically fit, was included in the squad, joined the training camp and appeared on the match sheet, but ultimately was not used, in a situation that once again sparked controversy over player management in the national team.

According to information reported by the newspaper Record, Sporting asked the Portuguese Football Federation not to use the attacking midfielder. The request was accepted, even though the player was physically fit to play.

The case adds to the debate over the criteria applied in the national-team setup, especially as it involves a player whose absence from previous call-ups was often a source of criticism among Sporting supporters. Now, despite being called up and available, Pedro Gonçalves remained without minutes, even while being listed among the options for the match.

The decision raises doubts about the consistency of the process and about the influence clubs continue to have within the federation’s structure during competitive periods. Being medically fit and officially available for the match, Pote’s non-use ends up being seen as yet another case of an exception being granted.

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