Brazil‑born Matheus Nunes, the 27‑year‑old Manchester City right‑back, reaffirmed his allegiance to Portugal before the World Cup. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he moved to Lisbon at 12 and joined Portugal’s squad in 2021 after rejecting a Brazil call‑up. Nunes said he owes his professional launch to Portugal, where he first played seriously and plans to help them reach the final.

During a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida, Nunes explained the tug‑of‑war between his Brazilian roots and Portuguese upbringing. He noted he never registered in Brazil’s federation and that Portugal offered the first serious training infrastructure. Despite strong ties to Rio, he said he would travel for holidays to stay close to family and friends and supporting their team efforts.

Nunes also addressed the prospect of facing Brazil in a World Cup final, saying it would be special but stressing his priority is victory. He praised teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, noting their journey from sixth‑division football to the world stage. With Portugal set to train in the U.S. before their opener against Congo DR, Nunes remains focused on winning the title.