Leeds starlet Struijk was among the players Martinez was eyeing adding to the Belgian national squad, with the defender having represented the Netherlands at youth international level.

 

The Antwerp-born defender, who is eligible to play under Martinez, has applied for a Belgian passport but it appears he will not be changing his national allegiance yet.

 

 

Belgian national team coach Martinez has revealed that Struijk currently has his heart set on one day featuring for the Netherlands and thus will not be called up to the Red Devils squad, at least for the moment.

 

However, Martinez went on to stress that his team will not completely drop their interest in the Whites star and left the door open for him to have a future spell with Belgium.

 

 

“It seems that Struijk’s heart is leaning towards the Netherlands”, Martinez told Belgian daily La Derniere Heure.

 

“You have to have respect for that, even if his profile is interesting.

 

 

“I do not want to create a war between the [Belgium and the Netherlands] federations.

 

“Therefore, he will not be in my squad.

 

“That does not mean that Struijk’s file is closed.”

 

Struijk will have to continue to make the most out of any chances that comes his way under Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa should he seek to catch the eye of the Dutch national team coach Frank de Boer.