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Radja Nainggolan: Why I quickly rejected Chelsea move
RADJA NAINGGOLAN has confirmed he had an offer to join a Premier League club in the summer.
Radja Nainggolan - 5 things you need to know
Chelsea failed to sign Nainggolan this summer after making three bids for him - the highest thought to be £33million.
But the Belgium international instead opted to remain at Roma and committed his future at the club with a new four-year contract.
The combative midfielder has confirmed there was contact from an English club but insists there was no hesitation over his decision to stay at the Serie A side.
Radja Nainggolan was wanted by Chelsea in the summer
Antonio Conte tried to sign Radja Nainggolan at Juventus and Chelsea
"Was I close to moving to the Premier League? There was contact,” he told Sky Sport Italy. “But then I quickly decided to remain."
Chelsea turned their attention to N'Golo Kante at Leicester after missing out on Nainggolan and landed the France midfielder for £32million.
Nainggolan has previously revealed that Blues manager Antonio Conte attempted to lure him Stamford Bridge over the summer, as well as during his time at Juventus.
The 28-year-old said: “He already wanted me when he was the Juve manager, but I’d already said I would never leave Roma for Juve. Now he tries to get me to Chelsea.
Radja Nainggolan signed a new four-year contract over the summer
“I know Chelsea are a big club, but I have to take several things into account. It’s not easy to leave Italy behind after 12 years. I won’t leave for a small difference.
“Conte told me what he expects from me and what type of player I can be for him. 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, but I can be important for a team. A manager who appreciates that is important for me.”
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