Midfielder Fredrik Orsnes has retired from the Norway national team and the Benfica man explained on Tuesday that he wants more time to prioritize his life.
“I want to thank my teammates, coaches and staff for a fantastic time with the national team. I’m very proud to be part of this group and represent Norway, but I feel like I need more time and freedom to prioritize. other things in my life. Life beyond football,” the footballer said in a statement published on the Norwegian Football Association website.
Orsnes, 28, who represented Norway for the first time in 2021 and has since won 20 caps, said he had spoken to national coach Stale Solbakken about the “difficult” decision.
“We’ve had good conversations about this for a long time. It’s a difficult decision, but I think it’s the right decision in terms of what I want to prioritize,” reiterated the Benfica midfielder.
The Norwegian coach also commented on Orsnes’ decision, which he regretted, admitting that it was being postponed.
“Fredrik was a fantastic player. He played his best matches for the national team at the beginning of the last qualifying stage. [para o Euro2024]. It enriched us both on and off the field. I knew what I was thinking and managed to put it aside a few times, but we agreed that if I was still ready to stop, we would not argue anymore,” the coach explained.
The Norwegian midfielder became the third Benfica player to refuse to represent his national team in recent times, after Rafa in 2022 and Joao Mario in 2023 also left the Portuguese national team for personal reasons.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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