Arsenal midfielderFabio Vieirahas been forced to withdraw from the Under-21 European Championship with Portugal due to ιɴjυɾу.
The 23-year-old was due to captain Portugal for the tournament, which begins against Georgia in Tbilisi on Wednesday.
However, he has now been replaced by Benfica’s Diego Moreira,who is out of contract this summer and has been linked with a move to Chelsea.
A ȿτɑτємєɴτ from the PortugueseFootballFederation read: ‘The captain of the Equipe das Quinas [Vieira] presents a medical condition that, after evaluation and follow-up by the FPF’s Health and Performance Unit (USP), it was decided not to make the player available for the Under-21 Euro.
‘Since he returned fromEngland, the midfielder has been monitored by USP, having fulfilled the stipulated recovery ρłɑɴ. However, his situation is not having the expected evolution so that he can participate in the competition.’
Vieira has just finished his first season at Arsenal following his £34 million move from Porto last summer.
The midfielder struggled to secure a regular role in Mikel Arteta’s side, starting just three Premier League games.
Vieira’s last start came in the 3-3 draw at home to Southampton but he was substituted after just 57 minutes following a poor performance.
‘It was a difficult match for a lot of players but for Fabio, he hasn’t played enough minutes,’ Arteta said after the game.
‘He had good periods but the way the game starts as well, instead of going one or two-nil up, and everything goes in your favour, it starts to go in a much more difficult way. That doesn’t help.’
