The fact that Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho gave up on his place in Portugal’s U21 squad has made some noise in the local media ver the past few days.
So now that coach Rui Jorge held a press conference, he explained the situation, confirming that the player communicated with them via messages.
“I got disappointed by the way it went,” Rui Jorge told the Portuguese media (via Mais Futebol).
“The fact that Fabio sent me a message, on Saturday night, saying that he didn’t want to continue in the under-21s. That he had been thinking and didn’t want to continue in the under-21s, because it no longer brought him any benefit. For now, it’s a message. My answer was: ‘So, Fabio, not even a phone call?’. And the disappointment was precisely there.
“After my message, I thought Fabio would pick up the phone, call me and speak. That’s what I always conveyed to them, that they could talk to me about these matters. I make a point of telling all players when they come with us. I only want people in this space who really want to be here.”
Despite making it quite clear he was disappointed with the way Fabio Carvalho’s decision was communicated, the coach still praised the attitude the Liverpool player always had when with the national team, and wished him the best for his future.
“Fabio, it should be noted that, while he was with us, he always behaved exemplary at all levels. What he brought to our game too, his relationship with our staff was impeccable, on our part towards him the same thing – he was treated with affection and respect that we all deserve, everything went very well. That’s why I was surprised.
“He will have his reasons and, of course, he will explain them better in the future. We all loved Fabio a lot. We liked him and continue to like him. I take the opportunity to wish him all the luck in the world in his career, because he has always been an exceptional kid with us.”
Both the English and Portuguese media have been pointing out that Fabio Carvalho’s decision to abandon Portugal’s U21s could be related to a potential wish of representing England’s first team.
The Liverpool midfielder had played for England at many youth levels, and it was only at the U21 level that he featured for the country where he was born.
