Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga has hit out at Belgium manager Roberto Martinez. The 22-year-old has been capped just once by his country and looks very unlikely to be on the plane to the Qatar World Cup next month.
He has been called up by Martinez on five different occasions but has made just one appearance. Even in friendlies in March, where Martinez left the likes of Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne at home for games against Ireland and Burkina Faso, Lokonga was still an unused substitute.
A lack of opportunities has been a huge frustration for Lokonga, who has revealed that he even considered making himself not available for selection for Belgium because of the situation.
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Perhaps it should be no surprise that international opportunities for Lokonga have been limited. After all, he has only started two Premier League fixtures so far this season, while he featured in exactly half of the Gunners' games last season.
Mikel Arteta has found a winning formula at Arsenal, and Lokonga is not part of the equation. Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka make up Arsenal's preferred midfield partnership, with the Belgian very much a backup option currently.
His lack of game time at Arsenal is why Martinez consistently snubbs him at Belgium. The midfielder has revealed that he phoned his agent last season, asking him whether staying at Arsenal was good for his development.
"I called him [Martinez] the day after the international match in March," he told La Derniere Heure.
"I was really p***** off. I thought for a moment that I didn't even want to play for the national team anymore. I was disgusted.
"Martinez said he preferred players who are playing regularly at their club. He was also not completely satisfied with my training. I don't think he can portray me as a bad boy who doesn't work hard. It would be too easy to put up such a picture of me. He can't use something like that to justify why I don't get to play.
"If I'm already on the bench while De Bruyne, Hazard, and the other stars are not there, then I don't stand a chance if they are in the selection. Maybe Martinez doesn't believe in my qualities, or he doesn't like my style. But I'd rather he communicate that clearly. I would have accepted his decision without hesitation.
"At the end of last season, I almost snapped. I called my agent to ask him if staying at Arsenal was a good idea. He comforted me in my choice, even though I know I need to start more often to develop."
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