Inter loanee Radja Nainggolan has revealed he wanted to play for Antonio Conte but claimed his heart is left at Roma.
The former Belgium international has returned to Cagliari on loan this season and helped the Rossoblu to their best start since the Scudetto winners in 1969-70.
He will return to Inter after the current campaign, but his future is still uncertain. In an interview with RiberaRibell, the midfielder spoke about his shirt number, former coaches and his own sacrifices.
Inter loanee Radja Nainggolan has revealed he wanted to play for Antonio Conte but claimed his heart is left at Roma.
The former Belgium international has returned to Cagliari on loan this season and helped the Rossoblu to their best start since the Scudetto winners in 1969-70.
He will return to Inter after the current campaign, but his future is still uncertain. In an interview with RiberaRibell, the midfielder spoke about his shirt number, former coaches and his own sacrifices.
“I haven’t sacrificed a lot in my life. Everyone has his own way of life,” he said. “I have not always lived like a professional, I know that.
“But for me, the most important thing is to fight on Sunday and I always did that. We must be judged by what we give for the team. Then, in life, one should be free.”
Nainggolan has been carrying his beloved No4 shirt again at Cagliari this term and revealed he would love to continue with the same number in the future.
“At Cagliari, Conti told me to try with No4. I had a very good season and I never changed. At Inter I had to choose, and I took 14.
“If I have the possibility to get No4, I’ll take it because it’s even my date of birth.”
Nainggolan’s last goal for Inter came against Empoli on May 26, 2019 and helped the Nerazzurri qualify for the Champions League.
“It was satisfying because the last goal of the championship was to get into the Champions League. I was a bit sorry for Empoli because they played excellent football and deserved to stay up.
“But we had to do that and that’s it, I remember [Salih] Ucan could have equalised and we would have been out. It was an emotional game and it was an important goal to get into this year’s Champions League.”
He admitted he has a great relationship with many coaches but highlighted Luciano Spaletti’s influence on his career and said he would love to work with Antonio Conte.
“The one I owe most of all is Spalletti. He changed my career. Pioli was important, he got me started in Serie B.
“But Spalletti changed my role, he completed me. I would have liked to work with Conte because in a month I saw his determination and personality. How he wanted the team to play.
“During that month I saw a great coach.”
But he also admitted he 'left his heart' in Rome and had a personal rivalry with Juventus.
“I spent four years at Cagliari and four in Rome, where I left my heart. I always received so much affection and lived many battles there.
“Maybe I also came at an age when football started to count. I like the challenge. Juve are the strongest team over the last ten years and for me it was more important to beat them than to go there and win.
“In Rome the Derby was the most intense match, but for me it was against Juve. I believe it’s the club that has been talked about most in recent years.
“People think that I hate Juventus, I don’t hate Juve but I love the challenge. I want to win against the best. It’s a good rivalry because I said that I would never go there, and I never went.
“Yes, I miss it [Roma] a little. But life goes on.
Nainggolan has claimed former Cagliari midfielder Nicolò Barella reminds him of himself ‘six years ago’ and believes the Italy international will develop into a great player.
“Inter signed [the new me]. Barella has my style of play. He is a badass, he runs and fights. He scores few goals and only makes some assists, but once he has the experience he will contribute there too.
“He’s like I was six years ago, he is very important to make the other 10 on the team do well.”