Varela and Mora among the Portugal squad, the coach: 'I had also included Cristiano Ronaldo'

Jorge Jesus, the coach of the Portuguese national football team, announced this Friday the list of players called up for the last matches of the Nations League group stage, at home against Denmark (14) and away against Wales (17). It is the first call-up after Cristiano Ronaldo's official abandonment of the national team, caused by disagreements with Jorge Jesus. "I didn't know anything about it until he announced it. I had included him in the list of players called up", said the coach.

Among the new features, the Portuguese media highlight the debuts of Quenda from Cehlsea, Gustavo Varela from Monza and Rodrigo Mora from Roma with the senior national team.

"Varela is a kid," Jesus said in a press conference, "but until this weekend he was the top scorer in the Italian championship. You have to have quality for something like this." As for Mora, "he has similar role characteristics", specified the Portuguese coach. Together "they can fill that role behind the center forward very well. Mora played several games with Roma, proving to be decisive in the offensive phase with goals and assists. He responds perfectly to what I have in mind".