Matheus Nunes Misses Portugal Friendly Ahead of World Cup

Matheus Nunes missed Portugal's 2-1 friendly win over Chile because of an injury. His absence raises doubts about his availability for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America. Roberto Martinez's Portugal side fielded a matchday squad without Nunes and secured the 2-1 victory. The Portuguese Football Federation has not disclosed the nature or severity of the injury. At Manchester City, Nunes has been deployed mainly at right-back under Pep Guardiola. He arrived from Wolves for a £53 million fee in 2023 after originally playing as a central midfielder. His ability to cover multiple positions makes him a valuable asset for both club and country. City will monitor his fitness closely as they approach pre‑season under incoming manager Enzo Maresca. Sporting director Hugo Viana is expected to seek medical updates before the pre‑season programme begins in July. The club hopes to have Nunes available for the start of Maresca's tenure. Portugal's World Cup campaign starts against Germany on June 15. Nunes therefore has a limited period to prove his fitness before Martinez finalises the squad.