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Football

21st May 2018

Radja Nainggolan has retired from international football after World Cup snub

His decision follows his exclusion from Belgium's World Cup squad

Wayne Farry

The decision comes just hours after Roberto Martinez left him out of his World Cup squad

AS Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has retired from international football after being omitted from the Belgium squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.

The 30-year-old was a shock exclusion from Roberto Martinez’ squad, with Marouane Fellaini selected ahead of him, and reacted by almost immediately taking to Instagram and announcing that his international career had “reluctantly” come to an end.

Very reluctantly my international career comes to an end…I’ve always done everthing (sic) I could to represent my country?? Being yourself can be bothering …From this day on I will be the first fan…

Nainggolan has been a star performer for Roma this season as they surprised Europe’s elite to reach the Champions League semi-finals, before eventually being eliminated by Liverpool.

His exclusion from the Spaniard’s squad was treated with shock by many, especially given the fact that the likes of Adnan Januzaj and Christian Benteke made it into the team.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjCY-PzBe0f/