Tiago Djaló has made his long-awaited debut for the Portuguese national team, marking a significant milestone in his career recovery. The defender, currently on loan at Porto from Juventus, played 30 minutes in Portugal’s Nations League match against Croatia, replacing Tomas Araujo.
Speaking to RTP after the game, Djaló expressed his joy at the opportunity while also making some pointed remarks about his current situation:
“I’m very happy about my debut. The team could have won, we didn’t manage to, but we’ll do better in the next match. It was a special evening for me, for my family, and my friends because it was something I wanted.”
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Djaló added, “It was a matter of quality. Without wanting to sound arrogant, I’m happy to have changed the course of my career. I know I can give much more, and I’m grateful for everything I’ve achieved.”
In a statement that may raise eyebrows at Juventus, Djaló pointedly expressed gratitude only to Porto: “Taking Pepe’s place? The important thing is to do what I know how to do, give my best, and work. I only have to thank Porto for the opportunity they gave me to compete again.”
Looking ahead to future national team call-ups, Djaló remained confident: “There’s still a lot of time until the next phase. It’s not what I did today that will determine my next call-up. I believe that if it depends on quality and performance, I’ll surely return to this national team group.”
