Bruno Fernandes returns to Man United after early release from Portugal

Bruno Fernandes' November international break has come to an early end. The midfielder will return to Man United after being granted an early release from Portugal, despite their remaining Nations League group stage game on Monday. 

The Man United skipper is one of four Portugal players to have been given the permission to leave the Portugal camp to return to their club teams. Alongisde him, Bernado Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pedro Neto have all been released from international duty.

Fernandes, who is now on his way back to Manchester, would have missed the Croatia  game either way, as he received his third caution of the tournament against Poland on Friday, meaning he now must serve a one-match suspsension.

The decision was confirmed by head coach Roberto Martinez after his side confirmed their place at the top of Group A1 with a game to spare. Portugal are therefore guaranteed to make it through to the Nations League quarter-finals regardless of the scoreline in their match against Croatia in two days.

"In the first stage, we made six changes from one game to the next. It's important for us to be first - and we already are. We need to be competitive to add to the group, it's getting harder and harder to get into the starting eleven. There's a World Cup finals in 18 months," Martinez explained during his pre-match press conference.

"The game against Croatia is important, we need to look at other players. We're going to let go of Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, who is suspended - so we're going to call up Fabio Silva and [Geovany] Quenda from the Under-21s," the Portugal boss concluded.

 

November 15, 2024