The Belgian confesses to a podcast in his homeland and tells numerous anecdotes related to his Italian adventure: from the relationship with the current Juventus coach to that with the totems De Rossi and Totti
From the nights spent with Spalletti to that no to Juve for “arbitration reasons”. Radja Nainggolan never pulls his leg back. On the field as well as in front of the microphones. The Belgian midfielder, currently playing for Patro Eisden, gave a long interview to the podcast Sportium.fun. Many anecdotes revealed by the Ninja. Among these also one that concerns Luciano Spalletti. “The coach locked me up in Trigoria at night. I don’t remember exactly the reason, maybe an important match or a free kick. He said to me: “Now you sleep here this week because I don’t want you to go out.” He slept in the next room and every evening, until half past ten, he came to check that I was in the room because he was afraid that I would run away. But then I played badly, it was better to leave me free. They said that if I didn’t drink and smoke I could play at Real Madrid, but without my lifestyle I wouldn’t have had my happiness and I would not have rendered as I have rendered.”
shoulder the top
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A relationship with the current Juventus coach that Nainggolan remembers with extreme pleasure. “We had a wonderful harmony – added the Belgian -. He was the strongest coach I had in my career. His vision of football was written on my skin. As a person he is very particular, but when he loves you, he loves you. When you feel his trust, you understand what kind of person he is, but he is not someone who easily accepts everyone. He builds certain types of relationships with a couple of players and when you are part of them you feel what he can give you. I had this relationship with him.” Completing the podium of the best coaches in his career are Stefano Pioli and Mario Somma. But Radja lived the best years in Rome.
maimed
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A city he didn’t want to leave. The reason for farewell has a name and surname. “As a man, I’m someone who has to feel good about himself every day – the midfielder becomes serious -. I’ve never had a problem saying what I think. I could have stayed but then director Monchi arrived, wanting to create his own team, because the genius from Seville thought he could build a team like he wanted in Italy. He wanted to sell all of Sabatini’s players. When I found out, I told him that I would decide where to go. I could have stayed but I told him that I wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to him every day. days, he wanted to pretend to be a friend. I still feel a lot of affection from the Roma fans. Inter was a team where I always wanted to play. When they asked me if I was happy to be at Inter I replied that I was sadder to have left Roma.”
Juventus and referees
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Nainggolan would certainly never have gone to Juventus. And he explains the reason clearly and bluntly: “I liked Football Manager and I never took the strongest team. When a club like Roma wins the scudetto it will be a celebration for twenty years, while at Juve you have to win it every year. It’s a different feeling. And then there’s the matter of referees.” And here Nainggolan comes out: “I experienced it first hand. When they inaugurated the Juventus Stadium, I played there with Cagliari and I remember a match in which we drew 1-1 with a non-existent penalty in favor of Juventus. Then I arrived at Roma: first match at the Juventus Stadium, we lost 3-2 with two penalties outside the area, and there was the same story with Roma. Everyone saw it, it’s the truth except that not everyone manages to say it. And that’s where this feeling comes from.” Speaking of referees, Nainggolan also has his say on the VAR: “I think football must be like it used to be. If mistakes are made with the VAR then it’s right to remove it and let the referees make mistakes normally. Real football is different, it’s not this. Football is a contact sport. There’s no more cunning. The VAR has changed and is limiting football.”
pogba and de rossi
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His football was of a high level and Radja certainly isn’t being modest: “In my time in Serie A there were perhaps only Vidal and De Rossi who were as strong as me. Pogba? I was stronger than him, he only had three good years in his career. I’ve never been seriously injured. At the moment I’m still playing but I’m thinking about getting my licence. Seeing what’s out there, I think I can be a coach.” Finally on his relationship with his former teammates: “I speak with many from Piacenza. I speak with Daniele Conti, I hear from him often, I see him often. De Rossi was important, Totti was important. You never saw Francesco off the pitch but we had a wonderful relationship.”
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