Radja Nainggolan has never been short of an opinion, and the former Roma midfielder was in characteristically outspoken form in a wide-ranging interview with Sportium.fun, taking aim at Juventus, the VAR system, and even Paul Pogba along the way.
The Belgian, who resisted several opportunities to join Juventus during his career, explained his reluctance in the most Nainggolan way imaginable.
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“I used to play Football Manager and I never picked the strongest team,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“When a club like Roma wins the title, it is a celebration for twenty years. At Juventus you have to win it every year, it is a completely different feeling.”
Radja Nainggolan of AS Roma gestures during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on February 7, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images )
Nainggolan on Juventus referee bias and VAR
He then ventured into more controversial territory, citing what he described as personal experience of referee bias at the Allianz Stadium.
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“When they inaugurated the Juventus Stadium, I played there with Cagliari and we drew 1-1 thanks to a non-existent penalty given to Juventus,” he said.
“Then I arrived at Roma, first game at the same stadium, we lost 3-2 with two penalties that were given outside the box. Everyone saw it. It is the truth, only not everyone can bring themselves to say it.”
On VAR, Nainggolan’s verdict was equally blunt.
“Football should be like it used to be,” he said. “If mistakes are still being made with VAR, then it is right to remove it and just let referees make errors naturally. Real football is something else.”
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Perhaps most eyebrow-raising was his assessment of his midfield contemporaries. “In my era in Serie A, only Vidal and De Rossi were as strong as me,” he claimed. “Pogba? I was better than him, he only had three good years in his entire career.”
Now contemplating his next move, Nainggolan revealed he is considering taking his coaching badges. “Looking at what is out there,” he said with typical modesty, “I think I could do it.”
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