Roberto Martinez officially confirms Radja Nainggolan has been left out of Belgium’s World Cup squad – “the reason is tactical”.
It was reported this morning that the Roma midfielder wouldn’t be selected, and the Red Devils have now announced their preliminary 28-man squad, and Nainggolan is not included.
“Nainggolan is a top player,” Martinez assured at his Press conference.
“The reason is tactical. In the last two years the team has worked in a specific manner. Other players had those roles.
Roberto Martinez officially confirms Radja Nainggolan has been left out of Belgium’s World Cup squad – “the reason is tactical”.
It was reported this morning that the Roma midfielder wouldn’t be selected, and the Red Devils have now announced their preliminary 28-man squad, and Nainggolan is not included.
“Nainggolan is a top player,” Martinez assured at his Press conference.
“The reason is tactical. In the last two years the team has worked in a specific manner. Other players had those roles.
“We know that Radja has a very important role in his club, and we cannot give him that role in our squad.”
Martinez has previously stated that he sees Nainggolan as a number 10, and that Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens are better in that position.
The final 23-man squad will be named on June 4.
Preliminary Belgium squad for World Cup 2018:
Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels [Wolfsburg], Thibaut Courtois [Chelsea], Simon Mignolet [Liverpool], Matz Sels [Anderlecht]
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld [Tottenham], Dedryck Boyata [Celtic], Laurent Ciman [Los Angeles FC], Vincent Kompany [Manchester City], Thomas Meunier [PSG], Thomas Vermaelen [Barcelona], Christian Kabasele [Warford], Jordan Lukaku [Lazio], Jan Vertonghen [Tottenham Hotspur]
Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco [Dalian Yfang], Nacer Chadli [West Bromwich Albion], Kevin De Bruyne [Chelsea], Moussa Dembélé [Tottenham Hotspur], Youri Tielemans [Monaco], Axel Witsel [Tianjin Quanjian], Leander Dendoncker [Anderlecht], Marouane Fellaini [Manchester United], Thorgan Hazard [Borussia Mönchengladbach], Adnan Januzaj [Real Sociedad]
Forwards: Dries Mertens [Napoli], Michy Batshuayi [Borussia Dortmund], Christian Benteke [Crystal Palace], Romelu Lukaku [Manchester United], Eden Hazard [Chelsea]
Our #WorldCup squad list !
Final 23 04/06#REDTOGETHER pic.twitter.com/nxOLAv28MS
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) May 21, 2018