Carlos Forbs Earns Portugal call-Up After Club Brugge Renaissance
Brussels, Belgium – Carlos Forbs, teh 21-year-old winger currently shining for Club Brugge, has been named to the Portugal national team squad for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Ireland and armenia.This marks a potential first senior international call-up for Forbs,representing the culmination of a career resurgence after setbacks at previous clubs.
National coach Roberto Martínez included Forbs in his 26-man selection, recognizing the player’s recent form. While Forbs is new to the senior Portugal setup, he boasts an extensive record with the Jong Portugal (U21) team, having earned 18 caps.
Forbs’ inclusion comes on the back of a standout performance in Club Brugge’s thrilling 3-3 draw against FC Barcelona in the Champions League this week. The Portuguese winger directly impacted the game, scoring two goals and providing an assist - a performance that firmly placed him on the radar of national selectors.
The call-up offers Forbs the possibility to train alongside established stars like Cristiano ronaldo, João Félix, and Rafael Leão. He will also be joined by former Ajax teammate Francisco Conceição. Portugal currently sits in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup, needing only a single point from thier remaining qualifiers to secure their place in the tournament.
Forbs’ journey to this point has been far from straightforward. Ajax signed the promising attacker in mid-2023 for a reported €14 million, offering him a five-year contract. However,he failed to establish himself in Amsterdam and was subsequently loaned to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League after just one season.
His stint in England proved equally challenging, with only eleven appearances for the Premier League side. Club Brugge then took a calculated risk, acquiring Forbs for €8 million and offering him a four-year contract.
That gamble appears to be paying off. Forbs has become a key player for Club Brugge, contributing five goals and five assists in 19 appearances across all competitions.This consistent performance has now been rewarded with a coveted spot in the Portuguese national team, offering him the chance to represent his country on the world stage.
Keywords: Carlos Forbs,Portugal,World Cup Qualifiers,Club Brugge,Roberto Martínez,Champions league,Ajax,Wolverhampton Wanderers,Football,Soccer,International Debut.