Former Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan regrets not winning anything in the capital and claims Antonio Conte did not say things to his face.
The 33-year-old joined Royal Antwerp in the summer after spending almost his entire playing career in Italy.
The former Belgium international played for Piacenza, Cagliari, Roma and Inter and always rejected offers to move abroad during the peak of his career.
Antonio Conte was one of those who wanted to take him to the Premier League in the past.
The current Tottenham Hotspur coach spoke to Nainggolan when he was in charge of Chelsea but failed to convince him to leave Roma.
“Conte wanted me in 2016, he came to Rome to talk to me,” Nainggolan told La Repubblica newspaper.
“He told me what he wanted from me. He already wanted to sign Romelu Lukaku. However, they [Chelsea] didn’t think I earned much. They offered me the same salary and it wasn’t enough to leave Roma.”
Nainggolan eventually worked with Conte at Inter, but things didn’t go to plan.
“Conte is a top coach, but I had no chances with him,” the midfielder claimed.
“We never argued but it was someone else to tell me that I had to go. I prefer people who say things to my face.”
Nainggolan spent four years at Roma before joining Inter, scoring 33 goals in 203 appearances.
His bond with the club and the city of Rome was solid, but the Giallorossi did not manage to win a trophy despite having many big players in the team.
Nainggolan also witnessed Francesco Totti’s farewell to football and the deterioration of the captain’s relationship with Luciano Spalletti.
“I had the best season of my carer with Spalletti. We had so many strong players. Dzeko, Totti, De Rossi, Strootman, Salah and Alisson. We achieved a record of points at Roma, but we didn’t win anything and that’s a regret.
“Totti never asked to start games but felt the coach made a fool of him because he was only introduced for the final five minutes, with the team winning 2-0.
“I would have felt the same, but the coach must make his choices and I don’t know who was right. Totti had an excellent relationship with him, but then it finished.
“I miss Italy,” continued Nainggolan. “The restaurants and my friends.
“I don’t think that staying up until late or smoking a cigarette is wrong. I never cared about what people were saying while many others hid.
“People know everything about me because they see me go clubbing. Some people drink more than I do, but they stay at home, so nobody knows.”
Trovare il titolo giusto è stato complicato, vero @OfficialRadja ? Ma solo perché di titoli potevano essercene duecento. Una delle interviste di cui sono più orgoglioso: nemmeno una frase è stata filtrata dalla retorica. #Nainggolan a @repubblica Qui: https://t.co/0PzsLzPnmE
— Matteo Pinci (@matteopinci) February 4, 2022
Get help bro still complaining about the same things from 5 years ago.
I think he is good player who is slightly underrated. However, what he doesn’t understand is what it takes to be a professional. Yes…you can stay out late, smoke, go clubbing all you want but it does not set a good example for the organization (club you play for). It’s about respect and being an example to younger players as well. You have a responsibility at least somewhat to this.
Yes, it is about responsibility, it’s not about what you want to do but what you have to do. So many people are looking up to you, as a professional, your life is not only yours, it belongs to all your fans, the fans of the club, especially the young kids who could innocently think that it is right because you are doing it. Stay blessed and be more responsible