Los 40 USA
Sign in to commentAPP
spainSPAINchileCHILEcolombiaCOLOMBIAusaUSAmexicoMEXICOlatin usaLATIN USAamericaAMERICA
Soccer

World Cup 2018 | Belgium

Nainggolan retires from Belgium duty after World Cup snub

Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has called time on his international career after Roberto Martinez dropped him for the 2018 World Cup.

Stats Perform
(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 20, 2017 Belgium's Radja Nainggolan speaks during a press conference after a training session of Belgian national soccer team Red Devils at the Belgian Football Center in Tubize. Belgium have left midfield creator Radja Nainggolan out of their World Cup squad, coach Roberto Martinez said on May 21, 2018. The absence of Nainggolan, who scored twice for Roma in the second league of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool this month, was the biggest surprise in the 28-player list that will be reduced to 23 before the tournament. / AFP PHOTO / Belga / BRUNO FAHY / Belgium OUT
BRUNO FAHYAFP

Radja Nainggolan has announced his retirement from international football after the Roma midfielder was left out of Belgium's provisional World Cup squad.

Read: Belgium 2018 World Cup squad: Nainggolan left out

After helping his Serie A side to a Champions League semi-final place, where they finally succumbed to a free-scoring Liverpool side, the player was omitted from the 28-man squad chosen by Roberto Martinez.

'Top player' Nainggolan out for 'tactical reasons'

The Belgian manager said that the decision was "tactical" despite describing the 30-year old as a "top player".

After missing out of what is almost certainly his last World Cup, Nainggolan posted a message on social media:

"Very reluctantly my international career comes to an end. I've always done everything I could to represent my country."