Radja Nainggolan explains why he snubbed Napoli for Roma in 2014 and believes Romelu Lukaku would have been the best striker in the world had he stayed at Inter.
The former Belgium international returned to Belgium last summer, signing with Royal Antwerp FC.
“I’ve become an adult in the city where I grew up as a child. I miss daily life in Italy. I’ve spent more time in your country than in Belgium. I try to be an example for the kids here. I’ve paid for my mistakes, but I’ve always been surrounded by hypocrisy,” he told Fanpage.
“I preferred Roma to Napoli in 2014 out of respect for Cagliari fans. It’s always more difficult to win there [in Rome and Naples]. People and fans should dream in silence. I’ve always responded to criticism with a smile, I’ve never missed a training session, despite my private life. Many other players don’t have the strength to do the same.”
The 33-year-old retired from international football a few years ago following disagreements with his national team coach Roberto Martinez. He is a close friend of Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens, who played many games with him with the national team.
Lukaku has had a tough time at Chelsea this season, while Mertens could be offered a one-year contract extension at Napoli. His contract at the club expires in the summer.
“Martinez told me that he could not find space for me in his system, but he was clearly looking at my life off the pitch. I was excluded and I retired from international football,” explained Nainggolan.
“I had told Lukaku that he was the best striker in the world at Inter. The team and the tactical system were shaped around him. He dreamt of making it at Chelsea, but it’s the third time that he goes there and it always ends up in the same way.
“Had he stayed at Inter, he would have been the best striker in the world for four or five years and I keep telling him this.
“Mertens? A player like him deserves to decide when it’s the right time to leave Napoli. He was a winger when he arrived at the club and has become the best scorer in the club’s history. He has gained respect from the fans and for this reason, he should be allowed to continue with the Azzurri.”
Nainggolan played for Piacenza, Cagliari, Roma and Inter in Italy, collecting 367 appearances and 48 goals in Italy’s top flight. Despite being one of the best midfielders during the last decade, he’s never won a trophy during his time in Italy.
Mertens ha ottenuto tanto rispetto soprattutto da parte dei tifosi, ed è per questo che gli si dovrebbe permettere di continuare a vestire l’azzurro" https://t.co/5h39xqKzmI @extranapoli @GifGifuni @carminemartino2
— Antonio Moschella (@ntomc) April 22, 2022
Nobody cares.
I’m still waiting for this site to officially changes its name to Football-EPL.
I had two lifestyles for him … He was talented, hardworking and a criminal, and he had tattoos, and he smoked and drank whenever he wanted … He is a role model for me … He lived the way he wanted to, not the way the doctors told him …
@I MISS JUVENTUS IN SERIE B- Speak for yourself bro, the fact that you don’t care when other people make sense doesn’t mean other reasonable people don’t care.
Roma has had some excellent players, the kind that are actually capable of winning the CL. Unfortunately the team and the management seemed to always be in turmoil and they were traded or sold for money.
“Despite being one of the best midfielders during the last decade, he’s never won a trophy during his time in Italy.” he has a scudetto with inter,no?
Was on loan at Cagliari in the second part of the season.