Until Radja Nainggolan signed a new contract with AS Roma until 2021, the Belgian midfielder was linked with a move to the Premier League.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea were after his services, and while there was a lot of ‘will he, won’t he?’ in the press, it always felt like the 29-year-old would be staying at AS Roma, a club close to his heart.
Failing to reproduce the form from last season and heavily reported to be on the verge of a move to China over the past few months, Nainggolan has seen some criticism thrown his way, but that’s something he’s used to, and he now wants to finish his career in Rome.
Speaking to Sport/Foot, the Serie A star recalled what went on last summer.
He said: “I could’ve gone to Chelsea and other clubs (last year), but I would have had to start over. At 28 or 29, I don’t want that. I prefer to stay where I feel happy”.
Explaining that money isn’t a motivation for him or he would have already changed clubs many times, Nainggolan prefers to focus on his ‘quality of life’, preferring to play where he likes to play, and, for him, that’s in Italy’s capital.
As for trophies: “Winning a title in 10 years at AS Roma would be more beautiful, in my eyes, than winning a title every year with Juventus. The titles, the career… What’s most important is when you look back, you have the feeling of having had a good life and always given it your all”.
With the likes of Antonio Conte, José Mourinho and Luciano Spalletti all wanting to work with him again, most players could have been flattered, but not Radja.
He reiterated later on in the interview: “To start all over again, and to once again win respect, it’s not really in my thoughts. I could’ve won more elsewhere than here, but for me, it’s not a good enough argument to leave”.
Considering AS Roma are struggling this season, currently fifth in Serie A and outside a Champions League spot, missing out on the European competition would undoubtedly lead to more rumours of Nainggolan’s exit.
Manchester United and Chelsea will always be some of the first clubs to be linked, but, as the man himself has said, it seems he already knows what his future holds.
A move to England isn’t part of that.
