World Cup 2018: Belgium’s Radja Nainggolan quits internationals after squad omission
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
