Roberto Martinez yesterday explained his decision to leave out Wolves defender Toti Gomes from his final Portugal Euro 2024 squad.
Toti will not be going to Germany this summer in what is a blow for the 25-year-old, who enjoyed a really solid campaign for Wolves in 2023/24.
After starting the season on the bench, Toti ended up making 42 appearances across all competitions for Wanderers, and is credited by many with helping the team to become more solid after the shift to a back three.
He was heavily used by Gary O’Neil in the end, with only three other players – Max Kilman, Jose Sa and Nelson Semedo – playing more minutes than him.
Sa, Semedo and Pedro Neto all received call-ups from Martinez, but Toti was overlooked and the Spaniard explained on Tuesday the reasons for his decision…
Roberto Martinez admits Wolves ace Toti Gomes was ‘unlucky’ to miss out on Portugal Euro 2024 squad
Toti made the Portugal squad for the first time last June, but his debut did not come until November 2023 against Liechtenstein.
He had put in a string of top performances for Wolves after being brought into the team against Manchester City at the end of September, and Martinez had been left impressed.
Toti started against Liechtenstein and played a full game. He helped Portugal keep a clean sheet as they won 2-0. Toti then got his second cap against Sweden in March.
It looked as though Toti would be heading to the Euros, with Martinez a big admirer of the player.
But ultimately the competition was just a bit too fierce as he narrowly missed out, and it’s a decision Martinez clearly had difficult reaching. Explaining his reasons, he said (via O Jogo): “Toti is a player with a clear profile, a physically very strong centre-back, with his left foot. He was unlucky because the number of central defenders is five. Toti is sixth. I can’t be more honest.”
So, frustration for Toti. But Martinez did suggest that the Wolves man will have a part to play in the future.
“I don’t think it’s easy to see players like Toti, Matheus Nunes, Ricardo Horta or André Silva, who played a role during qualifying, and now they can’t come in,” he added. “They are part of the future of the national team, without a doubt.”
A real shame for Toti
Toti is definitely unlucky not to make Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad, because he really did have a great season overall for Wolves. His form did dip a little at the end, and he certainly wasn’t the only one, but on the whole, he did really well.
It’s unfortunate because Martinez spoke about tactical flexibility and lining up with a back three. Obviously, Toti now has a lot of experience playing on the left of a three.
It will be a disappointment for him, but hopefully he can use this setback as fuel to improve.
And he can at least take heart from the fact Martinez has said there will be future involvement for him.
Ultimately, this major tournament may just have come a bit too soon for the Wolves man, who only cost the club £900,0000. But there is no denying what an amazing rise he has had over the last few years after being plucked from Estoril, going on loan to Grasshoppers and then returning to Wolves to become a first-teamer.