£33.5m Inter Milan man says he turned down Man Utd and Chelsea

Radja Nainggolan says he had no qualms about turning down moves to Manchester United and Chelsea in the past.

The 30-year-old midfielder, who retired from the Belgian national team in May, left Roma for Inter Milan in the summer for £33.5million.

 

Nainggolan was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, while Manchester United and Arsenal were also believed to be in for the player when it was evident that Roma were willing to sell him

And Nainggolan has admitted he turned down moves to England, despite being offered more money, in favour of continuing his life in Italy.

“I have had plenty of chances to leave,” he told ESPN. “I am the kind of person who above all needs to live well and be at a club which plays to win, or where I am happy with my life.

“In Italy, you live really well – I like the culture and way of life here. Chelsea offered me more money [while at Roma in 2017] and they are a big club, yes.

“But I’m interested in waking up in the morning in a place where I feel good and, at the age of 29, winning back all the respect I’d worked 12 years to earn in Italy was not for me.

“There are lots of components – lots to evaluate. I stayed in Italy, with Roma, because I wanted to end in the best way possible. There was Manchester too. There were many things that I was not interested in at all. Of course you are flattered by the interest, but this is how it is.

“I’ve come to a club who are looking to build something big, so I think I’m in the right place.

“I think if you want a spectacle, you need to watch English football. In terms of the fans, the stadiums being full, the pitches being perfect — and it seems like the action is in fast-forward.

“The rhythm is so high, but it’s not as tactical as it is in Italy. If you were to ask me which league I’d like to play in, maybe I’d say England for the spectacle, but I’ve been here for so long now that I’m perfectly happy here and I don’t need to change anything.”