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Radja Nainggolan: If Chelsea call me, 'am I not supposed to talk?'

The door's closed, but not locked.

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Rumours linking Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan to Chelsea have only gathered more steam in the past month, even getting to the point where the player had to go on Twitter to clear the air on them. For Nainggolan, this wasn't such a strang thing; he's had to deal with exit talks multiple times during his five-year spell at Cagliari.

"People are writing a few too many things about my future. I've been through this many times before, as at Cagliari for five years they said I was leaving and every summer I remained."

"Now I am focused on ending the season well and achieving our objectives. I just renewed the contract, so it's not as if I have to leave. If anything, I've proved that I want to stay."

While Nainggolan remains focused on Roma, he's not locking any doors with regards to a move abroad. Especially if, say, Barcelona call.

"I haven't heard from anyone yet, I don't even know if it's true that they want me. I even read a story in the newspaper that I told my friends I'm going to Chelsea. It's ridiculous! The truth is I can't talk about things I don't know about yet."

"If they call me, am I not supposed to talk? At the moment I am giving everything for Roma, as I always have done. I am happy, my family is too, so even if I continued my career here, I'd be happy."

"However, if Barcelona come looking for me, which player would say he'd dislike playing for the most important club in the world? I'd be an idiot to say such things."

Another club rumoured to be in on the Nainggolan chase are Serie A juggernauts Juventus. However, Nainggolan has refused a move to the Old Lady multiple times already, and would do so again in the next transfer window.

"I already rejected their proposals several times. They wanted me and I never accepted. I just don't see myself with the Juve colours on me. Why? I don't want to stir up controversy. Let's just say it's like seeing a girl you're just not attracted to. That's all there is to it. I thought that even before coming to Roma."

"[Juventus] fans want to insult me on Twitter, but in reality they just fire me up. Of course if they attack my family, then I will hit back."

-Radja Nainggolan; source: Il Tempo via Football Italia

So we can rule out Juventus out of the race. We will just need to beat the biggest team in the world while not having a Champions League berth and a world-class squad to offer beyond wages and other details. Easy peasy!

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