To everyone’s surprise, Rafa Silva ended his international career to devote himself 100% to Benfica Lisbon. He is replaced in selection by his club teammate Gonçalo Ramos.
Summoned by the Seleçao and in great shape with Benfica, Rafa Silva created a surprise by announcing on Monday that he could no longer represent his country for reasons “personal“. Aged 29, Silva, who contributed to the trophies won by Portugal at Euro-2016 and then in the League of Nations in 2019, had 25 selections.
“I represented national teams 40 times (including 15 youth selections, editor’s note), helped win Euro 2016 and the Nations League (2019) and I will always be in the front row to support our team at all” , said the Portuguese. According to his agent António Araújo (on Portuguese radio Antena1), the player wants to devote himself “100% to Benfica”.
The young Gonçalo Ramos replaces him
The young Portuguese striker from Benfica Lisbon Gonçalo Ramos has therefore been called up for the first time in selection to replace his teammate Rafa Silva. The 21-year-old striker, an 18-time international Espoir, will thus be available to coach Fernando Santos to face the Czech Republic on Saturday in Prague, then Spain next Tuesday in Braga as part of the Nations League.
Since the announcement of his list last Thursday, Fernando Santos has already had to replace the left side of Borussia Dortmund Raphaël Guerreiro, injured, by Mario Rui (Naples).