Having been called up for Portugal once again ahead of the November international period, Toti is hopeful that it will not be too long until he achieves his dream of making a national team debut.
The Wolves defender has been a regular in the Portugal squad since Roberto Martinez came into the job earlier this year, and although he is yet to earn a full senior cap having represented his country at youth level, Toti is happy with where his international career is at this moment, with the centre-back in contention to feature in this evening’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein.
On earning another Portugal call-up
“It means a lot. Every player wants to have that call up from his national country. Of course, I’ve been waiting to do it [make his senior debut] and hopefully very soon it will happen, but I’m still very happy to have received the call up and have that confidence from the coach, Roberto [Martinez].
“I met him before when he signed with the national team, he went around speaking with all the players. He came into the training ground and spoke with us Portuguese guys so we could know what work and what kinds of things he does, but I’m really happy for that moment.”
O regresso a casa 😏 #VesteABandeira pic.twitter.com/xQtVCt17dq
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) November 13, 2023
On waiting for his senior debut
“There’s always hope! On the bench, you’re always hoping to go and have some minutes, but just being out there and be around those guys, who maybe only a couple of years before I was watching on the TV or playing as on the PlayStation.
“Now, I am with them, training, and it’s a really good moment.”
On his connection with Guinea-Bissau
“I still have a lot of connection with there, I still have a lot of family there, and of course I am still in contact with the people there and I am proud to have been born there.
“I went to Portugal when I was really young and I have not had the opportunity to go back there recently, but I want to go back and visit the country.”
On being Wolves’ ‘best dressed’ player
“I like fashion, I’m very into it. Sometimes I don’t show it too much on social media – only sometimes. I try not to let it distract me too much, but sometimes I like to dress up well.
“It might be an area that I’d like to go into one day, for sure, because I’m really into, even a clothing brand and whether it would work or not, but long-term, some things will come. For sure.”
On continuing form after the international break
“We need to think game by game. Right now, we are in a good moment, but we need to think game by game because we don’t want to put big goals in front of us.
“We just need to be relaxed and prepare like we do every game, because every game is different, and that’s the way we prepare it during the week.
“All the strikers and wingers have been working really well, and hopefully they can keep scoring.”
