Roberto Martinez admits “it would have been much easier” to call Roma’s Radja Nainggolan to the Belgium squad but “that would have been a big mistake”.
The Giallorossi midfielder has been controversially left out of the squad for World Cup 2018, prompting protests in his homeland and his retirement from international football.
“I knew the decision not to call Nainggolan wouldn’t make me popular,” Martinez told Proximus Sport.
Roberto Martinez admits “it would have been much easier” to call Roma’s Radja Nainggolan to the Belgium squad but “that would have been a big mistake”.
The Giallorossi midfielder has been controversially left out of the squad for World Cup 2018, prompting protests in his homeland and his retirement from international football.
“I knew the decision not to call Nainggolan wouldn’t make me popular,” Martinez told Proximus Sport.
“That's the work of a national team Coach. It would have been much easier to choose differently, to call big names, but that would have been a big mistake for all concerned.
“Then you get to the World Cup and conclude that certain players can’t perform in the way we want…
“I decide on the basis of performances for the national team and on the basis of the different roles that this group needs.”