Nainggolan bows out after Belgium snub
MILAN — Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan announced on Monday he was calling time on his international career after being overlooked for the Belgium World Cup squad.
The 30-year-old has played 30 times for his country, with his combative displays making him a fan favorite, but his relationship with coach Roberto Martinez has often been strained.
Spaniard Martinez flew out to Italy over the weekend to explain his choice.
“Unfortunately and very reluctantly my international career comes to an end,” Nainggolan wrote on Instagram.
“I’ve always done everything I could to represent my country. Being yourself can irritate people.
“From this day on, I’ll be the number one fan.”
The absence of Nainggolan, who scored twice for Roma in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal against Liverpool earlier this month, was the biggest surprise in the 28-player list that will be reduced to 23 before the tournament.
Belgium faces England, Panama and Tunisia in Group G at the World Cup.
Former Everton manager Martinez said: “Radja is a top player. The reason is tactical. In the last two years the team has worked in a specific manner. Other players had those (midfield) roles.
“We know that Radja has a very important role in his club and we cannot give him that role in our squad.
“It was a sad and difficult decision. He is a player with a lot of class and he was voted Roma’s best player, but I’ve made my decision for purely tactical reasons. I have put in place a specific system that works. I can’t use Radja in a secondary role.”
The decision to omit Nainggolan was criticized by former Belgian international Philippe Albert.
“We must be the only country in the world to be making the trip without one of the best players in the world,” said Albert.
“This is not the way to become world champion.”
Despite Nainggolan’s omission, Belgium still boasts an enviable wealth of worldclass midfield talent in Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Tottenham’s Moussa Dembele.
Belgium’s best World Cup was a fourth place in 1986.