Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has announced his international retirement after being left out of Belgium’s World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament.
The 30-year-old helped Roma reach the Champions League semi-finals but did not make manager Roberto Martinez’s initial 28-man squad for Russia 2018.
Belgium are in England’s group and a squad including 15 Premier League players will be cut to 23 on 4 June.
“Radja Nainggolan is a top player. The reason is tactical,” said Martinez.
“In the past two years, the team has worked in a specific manner. Other players had those roles.
“We know Radja has a very important role in his club and we cannot give him that role in our squad.”
Nainggolan responded by on social media website Instagram, posting: “Very reluctantly my international career comes to an end.
“I’ve always done everything I could to represent my country.”
BBC
