Roberto Martinez, the head coach of the Portugal national team, has addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding the selection of Bournemouth’s young star, Eli Junior Krupi, for the upcoming World Cup. Martinez revealed that Krupi’s omission from the final squad was influenced not by his abilities but by a personal decision.
In his comments, Martinez explained that the Portuguese Football Federation made significant efforts to persuade the 19-year-old player to join the national team. However, the player’s aspirations led him to choose to represent France instead.
“Before the March training camp, we reached out and made an official offer. But there’s a big difference between targeting players who are theoretically eligible to wear the Portugal shirt and the player’s own desire. In this case, Junior was clear about his intention to represent France. We fully respect his decision,” the coach stated.
As a result, the talented forward, who has Portuguese roots, has decided to turn down the opportunity to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup. This season, Krupi has made 33 appearances for Bournemouth, scoring 12 goals.