Radja Nainggolan admits he would reject a Belgium call-up under Roberto Martinez and insists that previous national team coaches had no problems smoking.

The 33-year-old has played 30 games with Belgium but played his last game with the Red Devils in 2018.

“If I don’t have many call-ups, it’s his fault, not my lifestyle,” Nainggolan told VRT as quoted by Calciomercato.com.

“With Wilmots, I made a good European Championship in 2016, then Martinez came and pushed me away from the national team.

“He also came to Italy to tell me that he could not let me play in the same role I played in Rome. He is convinced that I would create a bad atmosphere in the locker room. He won’t call me again, but I would refuse it.

“The other coaches have always accepted me as I was, allowing me to smoke on the terrace.

“What’s the problem? My lungs are trained. I don’t think there is anything bad about smoking cigarettes. It relaxes me. I do it to avoid stress.”

3 thought on “Nainggolan ‘would refuse’ Belgium call-up under Martinez”
  1. He’s playing in a sub standard league and he’s only managed 6 or 7 appearances.. I don’t think Martinez will be rushing to call him up anytime soon. Stay in your lane Radja.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tickets Kit Collector