Atletico Madrid midfielder Axel Witsel has announced on Instagram that he is retiring from international football. The 34-year-old midfielder said on his post ‘After much thought, it is with many emotions that I have decided to retire internationally. It has been a great pride to have represented my country for the last 15 years’.
Witsel was part of Belgium’s golden generation and made an impressive 130 appearances for the Red Devils across a number of major tournaments, scoring 12 goals. He began his career at Standard Liege back in 2007, where he made 130 appearances and scored 32 goals.
Witself left Standard to join Benfica in 2011, but only spent one season in Portugal. He then moved to Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg in 2012 where he spent five seasons, scoring 22 goals in 180 games. After a brief spell in China, he moved to Germany and joined Borussia Dortmund. Last summer he left Dortmund after four years and 145 games to join Atletico Madrid. So far he has played 38 games for the Spanish side.
Witsel joins Toby Alderweireld and Eden Hazard in retiring from the Red Devils.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
