Pedro Neto’s Nations League form has convinced his national coach that bigger things are coming. Roberto Martinez released the winger back to Chelsea on Sunday following a standout showing in Portugal’s win over Poland.
Softfootball gathered that Martinez didn’t hold back on the praise, framing Neto’s move to Chelsea as a natural next step rather than a gamble. He said:
Pedro Neto is at Chelsea because he is more than ready for the highest level. He is a tremendously unbalanced player.
The praise clearly goes both ways. Neto has spoken openly about the trust he’s built with Martinez inside the national setup, crediting it for the connection running through the squad, saying:
It’s a pleasure to work with a coach like him. You can see in the mentality of the group that we are all connected. We believe a lot in him and he in us.
Club and country are now pulling in the same direction for Neto, and both seem to expect more from him in the months ahead.
