Geovany Quenda has returned to Portugal's senior squad for the first time in nearly two years. According to A Bola, the long absence was not for footballing reasons: Roberto Martinez was unhappy with an Instagram post by the young player after a match against Croatia.
The story began in November 2024, when the 17-year-old Quenda was playing his first full season for Sporting.
Martinez had first called him up to the national team in September, but the player did not make his debut on that occasion.
His next chance came two months later.
Portugal had already secured first place in their Nations League group and released several senior players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto, before their final match against Croatia.
Quenda was promoted from the youth team to the senior squad and could have made history that evening.
At 17 years, six months and 19 days old, he would have become the youngest player in Portugal's history, beating Paulo Futre's record by just four days.
Quenda warmed up but did not get on the pitch. The match ended 1-1.
After the game, Martinez explained his decision by pointing to the circumstances of the match.
We did not have the opportunity to make a fourth and fifth substitution.
But Geovany is a player who can help the national team a great deal.
However, according to A Bola, the coach was unhappy with Quenda's reaction.
The player later posted an Instagram story featuring a green heart, the word «soon» and a return arrow — which appeared to hint at a return to Sporting.
The post was accompanied by a track called «No Lie to Me».
The Portuguese publication reports that the national team's staff discussed the post, after which Quenda effectively stopped receiving senior call-ups.
There was no official suspension or public disciplinary sanction.
Martinez continued to speak positively about the player's prospects but never called him up to the senior squad again.
Instead, Quenda continued to play for Portugal's youth team, scoring seven goals and providing four assists in 16 appearances.
Now the situation has changed.
Quenda is now a Chelsea player, although his initial spell at the English club has been difficult: injuries have hampered his development, and he has started only once under Xabi Alonso so far.
Despite his lack of playing time, Portugal's new head coach Jorge Jesus has brought the 19-year-old back into the squad, having previously called him «the future of the national team».
Quenda could finally make his senior international debut during the current international break.
Portugal need one point against Denmark to guarantee first place in their Nations League group.
They will then play Wales, and it is in that second match that the coaching staff could give more time to players who feature less often.
