The AS Roma midfielder has been a transfer target of incoming manager Antonio Conte, and he has now stated that the Italian and two of his compatriots at Chelsea are trying to convince him to come to Stamford Bridge.
Radja Nainggolan has been playing the role of box-to-box midfielder at Serie A giants Roma with aplomb. Chelsea and Antonio Conte have identified him as one of their priority summer signings in 2016 but negotiations have been long drawn out, with the player seeking future assurances. He recently admitted that his two national teammates have been trying to get him to consider a move to London.
“Conte told me what he expects from me and what type of player I can be for him,” said Nainggolan, according to the Guardian.
“I’ll never be a player who’ll score 20 goals or give 20 assists, I’m not the one who’ll be in the picture all the time. I can be important for a team. A manager who appreciates that is important for me. But they [Hazard and Courtois] have also told me to join them.”
The midfielder went on to say that any move would be difficult for him considering the fact that he has spent his entire professional career in Italy, at Piacenza and Cagliari before moving to Roma in 2014.
Belgian golden generation could take Chelsea to the next level
Belgium are currently producing a golden generation of players, with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Toby Alderweireld and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco taking league football by storm last season. Chelsea have two talented Belgians as well in goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and winger Eden Hazard, even though the latter had a less than satisfactory season last time around.
The arrival of compatriot Radja Nainggolan would strengthen the Blues midfield, as the box-to-box midfielder is a powerful presence in the centre and would add some much needed grit and strength to the midfield. If Hazard can get back to his usual dazzling ways and Courtois touted to be one of the best young keepers in the world, then the three Belgians would play a crucial role for club and country in the coming years.
