Patrick Vieira says Ismail Jakobs’ decision to retire from international football is “difficult to understand”, after the Senegal defender ended his career with the national team at the age of 27.

Jakobs, who plays for Galatasaray, announced his retirement on 29 October, shortly after receiving a call-up for Senegal’s matches against Sudan on 12 and 16 November. Vieira had expected the left-back to be part of his squad for the forthcoming international window.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday as he announced his squad, Vieira explained how Jakobs informed him of his decision.

“When he received the call-up, he called me a few days later to tell me that he wanted to end his international career,” said the Senegal manager.

“I accepted it with a little bitterness, you could say, because I think he is at the peak of his career.”

Vieira added: “I always think it is a shame when a player of that age, who plays for a big club, ends his international career. But it was his choice and I have to accept it.”

The former France international said he was unable to make sense of the decision personally, although he acknowledged that Jakobs had the final say.

“It is true that, personally, it is difficult to understand,” he said. “But it is his choice and I have no other way of dealing with it.”

Jakobs’ announcement came after several weeks of uncertainty over his international future. Reports in September suggested the defender was considering retirement, but Vieira sought to reassure supporters that he would remain available to Senegal.

On 15 October, speaking to RTS, Vieira indicated that the difficulties had been resolved and suggested Jakobs could return to the squad in November.

However, two weeks later, Jakobs confirmed that he was stepping away from international football.

The decision has undermined Vieira’s earlier public assurances about the player’s future and leaves the manager with a sense of frustration.

Jakobs won 33 caps for Senegal before choosing to prioritise “his club and his family”. His decision followed El Hadji Malick Diouf moving ahead of him in the squad and came after a World Cup marked by organisational problems.

Vieira will now prepare Senegal for the two fixtures against Sudan without the Galatasaray defender, whose international career has ended despite his age and status at club level.