Martinez made the situation plain before the game, saying: “Unfortunately, Matheus Nunes is not yet fit to train, so he is out of the squad for tomorrow.” For a coach preparing for a major tournament, that is the key detail. If a player is not training properly, there is little sense in forcing minutes into a friendly.
With Portugal due to open against DR Congo in Houston on 17 June, every decision now is about protecting the bigger picture. The update says Nigeria next week could offer Nunes his first chance to return, which would still leave Martinez time to assess him before the real business starts.
Nunes’ absence matters because he arrives after what appears to have been his most convincing season yet at Manchester City. Initially signed as a midfielder, he found a clearer path when used at full-back, and that tactical shift seems to have transformed his standing for club and country.
The report says he made 49 appearances last season, including 34 in the Premier League, and established himself as City’s first-choice option on the right. That makes this a moment for patience, not panic. A player who has fought his way into the picture is not one you rush back for a June friendly.
There is also no shortage of competition. Joao Cancelo and Diogo Dalot give Martinez experienced alternatives on the right, which should ease any temptation to gamble. In tournament football, depth is not just useful - it is the difference between calm planning and reckless selection.
The next storyline is simple: whether Nunes can get back on the training pitch before Nigeria. If he does, Portugal will feel they have handled this exactly right before the opener with DR Congo.