Long-term Chelsea target Radja Nainggolan has admitted that Belgium teammates Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard have encouraged him to join the Blues.
Chelsea have shown an interest in the central midfielder since the appointment of Antonio Conte, but Roma have yet to agree a transfer.
Nainggolan is now away with Belgium ahead of Euro 2016 and it seems his international teammates are also doing their part for Chelsea in trying to persuade him to move.
“Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard have already asked me to come to Chelsea, but a possible transfer is not in my head,” he said, as reported by Goal.
“I am now concentrating on the next few weeks and to see what will happen.
“I have met with Antonio Conte and I know he wanted me at Juventus. He has told me what kind of player I can be for him and I feel he still wants me.”
Nainggolan has developed into an important player for both Roma and Belgium. He made 35 appearances in Serie A last season, scoring six goals and creating 42 chances.
Red Devils manager Marc Wilmots also rates the 28-year-old, with 15 of his 18 caps coming under the current boss. Nainggolan is set to feature heavily in the summer tournament in France, too.
Chelsea have tried to tempt Nainggolan to join the club but he is contracted to the Giallorossi until 2020 and with a 10th place Premier League finish not bringing any European football next season, it has proven difficult.
Conte won three successive titles with Juventus in his time at the club and is a big admirer of Nainggolan, who performed well for Roma and Cagliari over the same period.
COMMENTS