Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes has withdrawn from Portugal’s squad for their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Iceland with a muscle injury.
The 25-year-old joined last season’s treble winners in a deal worth upwards of £53million on transfer deadline day in September, having refused to train with former club Wolves in order to force the move through.
He has only made two Premier League starts since joining Pep Guardiola’s side, being hauled off at half-time on the most recent as City lost 2-1 to his former club at Molineux in September.
Nunes has not featured for Portugal since last year’s World Cup in Qatar, having been dropped by new head coach Roberto Martinez earlier this year.
Though he was recalled by Martinez for the team’s final two games in Group J, he will return to his club after undergoing medical tests, the Portuguese Football Federation announced on Wednesday.
Any lasting injury to Nunes would be a blow for Guardiola, with the City boss battling a lengthy injury list ahead of a huge Premier League tussle with Liverpool on November 25.
While Kevin De Bruyne is a long-term absentee and John Stones missed Sunday’s chaotic 4-4 draw at Chelsea with a thigh issue, Mateo Kovacic, Ederson and Nathan Ake have all withdrawn from their respective international squads due to injuries in recent days.
De volta aos treinos! 🫡 #VESTEABANDEIRA
Back to business 🫡 #WEARTHEFLAG PIC.TWITTER.COM/LXLPIDK5JV
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) NOVEMBER 13, 2023
