Portugal’s squad for their final two Nations League group stage matches against Denmark and Wales has been altered after a spate of weekend injuries.
Galatasaray forward Rafael Leão, Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares and Benfica centre-back Tomás Araújo have been released after an assessment by the Health and Performance Department of the Portuguese Football Federation declared they were unfit to take part in the games.
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has called up two players in replacement. Sporting central defender Gonçalo Inácio has been drafted in. A usual member of the group, Inácio was dropped from the Seleção squad originally announced by Jesus on Friday.
A bigger surprise, however, is a debut call-up for Monaco left-back Flávio Nazinho, adding to the youthful flavour of the squad.
The 23-year-old gets his chance owing to the injury to the usual occupant of the position, PSG’s Nuno Mendes, and a knock picked up by Lazio defender Tavares in yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Napoli. Tavares was substituted with a muscle strain at half time.
A Sporting youth product, Nazinho played 11 times for the Lisbon club under Ruben Amorim, before being sold to Club Brugge for €2.5 million euros in 2023.
Two years later the Almada-born full-back was transferred to Monaco for €5 million. He has played for Portugal at youth level but it is the first time he has been called into the senior squad.
Nazinho joins a handful of young players hoping to impress Jesus. The veteran coach said after guaranteeing qualification for the quarter-finals in the last round of matches that he would be using the remaining matches in this phase of the competition to take a look at new faces. JJ also called up Mateus Fernandes, Gustavo Varela, Rodrigo Mora, and Geovany Quenda.
Portugal play Denmark at Estádio Municipal de Braga on Saturday 14 November, before travelling to the Cardiff City Stadium for the clash against Wales on Tuesday 17 November.
