Roma’s Radja Nainggolan reveals ‘we could go a month without electricity’ growing up and that ‘my father turned his back on me.’
Belgian broadcaster VTM previewed a clip of its interview with Nainggolan on Tuesday, where the midfielder spoke in detail about the poverty he and his family faced during his formative years.
“There were three of us at home. My father left us and my mother had to pay her debts,” he told VTM.
Roma’s Radja Nainggolan reveals ‘we could go a month without electricity’ growing up and that ‘my father turned his back on me.’
Belgian broadcaster VTM previewed a clip of its interview with Nainggolan on Tuesday, where the midfielder spoke in detail about the poverty he and his family faced during his formative years.
“There were three of us at home. My father left us and my mother had to pay her debts,” he told VTM.
“She earned €1,300, working 10 hours a day. We’d eat the same things even three times a week and we could go a month without electricity.
“Going to Italy? I couldn’t not go. I wanted to go back after six months, but my brother convinced me to continue and stay.
“I earned €1,400 a month at Pescara and was able to send €500 to my mother. My father? I went to Indonesia four years ago.
“I wanted to give him another chance, I wanted to forgive him, but he turned his back on me and asked me for some money.”