It all started with statements by Pedro Mantorras, former Benfica striker (and star), on Radio 5, in Angola, through which he assured that Florentino only does not represent the Angolan team because the current leadership of the Federation does not want to. Along the way, he accused federal officials of lying.
«What the leaders of this current leadership say is a lie, it’s all a lie. I attended two meetings with Florentino, the businessman and the president of the FAF, Artur Almeida e Silva, and everything was agreed under one condition. I had to deliver two cars to Angola for Florentino’s wife and for the people who could come with him. I took on all of this for Florentino to represent Angola», he began by saying.
«Meanwhile there were elections in the Federation, that leadership lost, and Florentino called me to say that he was no longer coming to the National Team, because the person he wanted to be president of the Federation had lost. This is the pure truth, raw and naked.”
The problem is that it’s all a lie, says Florentino.
Through a statement, the current Burnley player assured that there was never any agreement to represent Angola and that his dream is to play for the Portuguese national team.
«Regarding the news that circulated during today, I consider it important to clarify that there was never any agreement for me to represent the Angolan National Team», wrote Florentino.
«I was born in Angola and I am very proud of my origins, which are part of my identity and my personal and family history. At the same time, it was in Portugal that I grew up from a young age and where I was trained. It was in Portugal that I had my first opportunities and conditions to evolve as a player and as a person. My desire to represent Portugal is very strong.”
The midfielder trained at Benfica remembers that he already had «the privilege of wearing the national colors and of being European champion at the Under-17 and Under-19 levels», so his ambition is to «represent the Portuguese National Team at the highest level, in the main team».
«Everything that concerns my international career has always been experienced with respect, clarity and truth.»
