Radja Nainggolan: Real reason Roma star left out of Belgium World Cup squad revealed

RADJA NAINGGOLAN has been left out of the Belgium squad for the World Cup.
The Roma star has missed out on Roberto Martinez’s 28 man list in one of the biggest shocks ahead of the tournament.

The former Everton boss insists he was not included for ‘purely tactical reasons’.

Martinez said: “Purely a tactical decision that we cannot give him the role he needs on the football pitch.”

And Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur claims there is a tactical part of the decision, but hints there could be more to the story.

He tweeted: “Roberto Martínez considers Radja Nainggolan as a number 10, rather than a holding midfielder or a box-to-box.

Belgium play in a 3-4-3 without a 10 and De Bruyne as a modern playmaker.

“Plus: manager not a fan of him smoking a fag from time to time.”

Nainggolan, 30, has 29 caps for Belgium and did move to retire from international football in August last year after being dropped from a squad for World Cup qualification.

He did get another call up for friendlies against Mexico and Japan in November but pulled out due to injury.

He missed Belgium’s last training session for unexplained reasons which led to speculation he could be axed.

Belgium are grouped with England, Panama and Tunisia.