Belgium under-21 coach Enzo Scifo has accused Adnan Januzaj of having a "bad mentality" after failing to accept a call-up.
Januzaj, who made his debut for the senior Belgian national team last year and was included in the 2014 World Cup squad, received an invitation to join up with Scifo's U21 side but has remained with Borussia Dortmund for the international break.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots told Het Laatste Nieuws: "He didn't exactly refuse, but we were not under the impression that he wanted [to play for the U21 side] no matter what. If that's the case, it's better to not come."
Scifo, one of Belgian football's biggest legends, said he had made contact with Januzaj by telephone and that the 20-year-old asked for time to discuss the invitation with his entourage.
"A phone call like that is a present and not a punishment," Scifo said. "Adnan Januzaj has a bad mentality."
Januzaj is currently on a season-long loan from Manchester United as he looks to kickstart his career, having had limited opportunities under Louis van Gaal last season.
However, he has so far failed to create an impression on loan at the Bundesliga club, with kicker and Bild reporting this week that he had "fitness problems" when he arrived at the Westfalenstadion in the summer.
Januzaj's agent, Dirk Devriese, told La Derniere Heure that the forward had been reluctant to join Scifo's squad as a result of his current situation in Dortmund, saying "It's not a question of having a bad mentality."
He added: "Dortmund are a well-oiled machine, currently one of the best teams in Europe.
"Don't forget that Adnan was not there for the preseason -- but the club allows us time. When [Ilkay] Gundogan and [Robert] Lewandowski got here, they also needed six months to find the right rhythm."
On Thursday, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc rejected reports that Januzaj could return to Old Trafford in the winter, and saying that it is "not an issue" at present.