Belgium left midfielder Radja Nainggolan was not part of the World Cup squad on Monday despite a standout season with Champions League semi-finalist Roma.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has long had a difficult relationship with the stormy midfielder but said he left him out purely for tactical reasons, saying Nainggolan was not the kind of player to take to a long tournament if he was only given a secondary position.
“I don't think Radja is a player to be used in a small role in any group,” Martinez said. “We all know he has a very important role at club level and I don't feel that we can give him that.”
The 30-year-old Nainggolan announced his retirement from international soccer almost immediately afterward. He made 30 appearances for Belgium and played at the 2016 European championships in France.
“Very reluctantly my international career comes to an end,” Nainggolan wrote on his Instagram account. "Being yourself can be bothering."
Martinez said he traveled to Rome to explain his exclusion in person, but he declined to elaborate on that encounter.
Instead of immediately going for the final squad of 23, Martinez kept it to a wider selection of 28 considering injury worries concerning players like Jordan Lukaku, Romelu Lukaku, Michy Batshuayi and Thomas Vermaelen.
Thibaut Courtois, Vincent Komany, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard were all named in the squad, which will face Portugal on June 2 before the team is cut to 23.
For the past two years, Martinez has never found a starting spot for Nainggolan. He was often a substitute while midfielders like Axel Witsel, who has moved to the Chinese league, continued to play. Compounding the player's on-field issues were off-field reports of ill-discipline.
The decision is not an easy one. I understand how popular the player is.Roberto Martinez, Coach, Belgium
However, Nainggolan was excellent for Roma in Serie A this season and in the unexpected run in the Champions League, where the team fell one goal short in the semi-finals against Liverpool.
With his gritty determination and outspoken nature, he has become a fan favorite.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Matz Sels (Anderlecht), Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles FC), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Jordan Lukaku (Lazio), Christian Kabasele (Watford), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona)
Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian)
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Borussia Dortmund), Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli)
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