"Tremendously unbalanced player" - Portugal boss Roberto Martinez believes Chelsea star is 'more than ready for the highest level'

Portugal national team head coach Roberto Martinez believes Chelsea winger Pedro Neto is capable of competing at the sport's highest level. Neto got himself on the scoresheet in Portugal’s 5-1 victory over Poland in the Nations League on Friday, November 15.

Martinez named Neto in the starting XI for his team's match against Poland, and the winger was one of Portugal’s most impressive players. In his last game for Chelsea before the international break, Neto had scored a wonderful goal against Arsenal to ensure a draw for the Blues.

Robert Martinez was in awe of Neto’s performance against Poland and lavished praise on the 24-year-old. He said (via Tribal Football):

"Pedro Neto is at Chelsea because he is more than ready for the highest level. He is a tremendously unbalanced player."

Neto also praised the former Everton manager, claiming it is a "pleasure" to work with him. He said:

"It's a pleasure to work with a coach like him. You can see in the mentality of the group that we are all connected. We believe a lot in him and he in us."

Pedro Neto has scored two goals and provided two assists for Portugal in 14 appearances across competitions.

Chelsea handed boost as Pedro Neto withdraws from Portugal camp

The Blues have been handed a huge boost as their winger Pedro Neto, along with three other Portugal players, have withdrawn from the squad ahead of their clash against Croatia on Monday, November 18. Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Neto all returned to their club sides after Portugal booked their spot in the quarterfinals of the Nations League by beating Poland.

As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Roberto Martinez will call up Fabio Silva and Geovany Quenda for Monday's game.

After the match against Poland, Martinez said (via Sports Illustrated):

"In the first stage, we made six changes from one game to the next. It's important for us to be first, and we already are. We need to be competitive to add to the group, it's getting harder and harder to get into the starting eleven. There's a World Cup final in 18 months."

"The game against Croatia is important, we need to look at other players. We're going to let go of Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, who is suspended. We're going to call up Fábio Silva and Quenda for the Under-21s."