Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has given another indication that he would prefer to remain in the Italian capital rather than join Chelsea this summer.
The Belgian international has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge for months, as it has been no secret that incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has made him a priority in the summer transfer market with a bid of around £35m likely to be needed to test Roma’s resolve.
However, it looks as though the current Italy coach is set to be left disappointed, with Nainggolan once again reiterating his desire to stay in Rome where he has insisted that he’s happy.
“I said to him [Roma President James Pallotta] I love where I am playing so why not stay?” he told reporters at Belgium’s training camp at Euro 2016.
“Chelsea were talking but at the moment there is nothing. The Premier League is a big competition, it’s lovely, but I think sometimes in life you need to make choices, and all I can say is that I am happy where I am.”
While that doesn’t necessarily entirely rule out the chance of a move to England in the coming months, if there is no desire from the player to leave, then Roma will certainly be confident of being able to hold on to him.
Having already lost Miralem Pjanic to Juventus this month, the last thing that the Giallorossi need is to lose another influential midfielder ahead of next season.
As a result, Luciano Spalletti will be delighted to hear that Nainggolan wants to stay at the Stadio Olimpico next season, and that in turn is likely to leave Conte disappointed in his pursuit of the combative midfielder.
It remains to be seen who the 46-year-old turns his attention to instead moving forward, but he’ll have to switch his focus away from Rome and look elsewhere based on Nainggolan’s latest comments.