Radja Nainggolan confirms talks with Chelsea's Antonio Conte last summer: 'They really wanted me'

Plans | Radja Nainggolan says he will talk about his future this summer
Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
Vaishali Bhardwaj23 March 2017

Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan admits he held talks with Antonio Conte about a transfer to Chelsea last summer, and says he will evaluate his future in Italy again at the end of the season.

Standard Sport reported last June that Chelsea had two bids rejected for Nainggolan, which forced the club to switch their attentions to N'Golo Kante who, after arriving from Leicester, has gone on to prove a crucial player for the league leaders this term.

Nainggolan, meanwhile, signed a new deal at Roma last October which will keep him contracted to the Italian club until 2020.

The Belgium international has repeatedly expressed his happiness at the Serie A side, but has now admitted he would be open to discussing his future again when the summer transfer window opens.

In an interview with Sky Sports News, Nainggolan confirmed he held talks with Chelsea manager Conte last summer and labelled the Premier League as the "best" in the world.

"Yes. I talked to him," Nainggolan said.

"They were really interested and wanted me over there. That's all I can say."

International duty: Radja Nainggolan is currently with the Belgium squad
AFP/Getty Images

When then asked about the English top flight, he said: "I watch it a lot. A lot of my team-mates play there. It's the best league in the world.

"We have to make choices in life. I am having a good season. When the window opens we will talk about it again."

He added: "I'm happy. Why give that away to begin again?"

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