Nainggolan: No regrets about ignoring Chelsea interest

Radja Nainggolan insists he “never even thought of being somewhere else” despite constant links to a transfer to Chelsea.

The Roma midfielder will face the Blues in Tuesday’s Champions League group-stage meeting, and claims he’s content with his decision in the summer despite previously declaring the English top flight is “the best league in the world.”

“I made my choice and I’ve never even thought of being somewhere else,” Nainggolan told ESPN FC’s Ben Gladwell before the midweek clash. “I’m focused here, as I always have been.

“The question (of regretting not being a Chelsea player) makes no sense. Whether it’s against Chelsea or any other big team, each player gets motivated for games like these.”

Instead of signing Nainggolan, Antonio Conte added Tiemoue Bakayoko and Danny Drinkwater to his midfield in the summer. Still, during recent injury layoffs for the latter and N’Golo Kante, Chelsea looked light in numbers in the middle of the park – a slot Nainggolan would’ve assumed with his committed tackling and inclination to drive forward with the ball.

Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco said Nainggolan would start in Chelsea’s visit to the Stadio Olimpico, setting up the tantalising prospect of the Belgian squabbling with fit-again Kante and Bakayoko in the Italian capital.