Radja Nainggolan has hit out at Inter boss Antonio Conte for ‘blaming me for everything’ during his time at the club this season.
The midfielder barely featured for the Nerazzurri in the first part of the season and was loaned back out to Cagliari for the remainder of the campaign last week.
Speaking in an interview for today’s print edition of Corriere dello Sport, Nainggolan drew a deep breath when asked whether he regretted being unable to win over Conte.
He then said: “He’s a great coach, but I was hurt when he only played me for eight minutes and then said I was responsible for everything that went wrong.
“What could I do in eight minutes? I didn’t start any controversy then and I won’t do it now, that’s how it went.
“I’m healthy. I didn’t miss a training session, I’m never a minute late.”
Nainggolan then went on to admit that he sees himself in Roma player Nicolo Zaniolo, who was sent to the Giallorossi as part of the deal that sent him to Inter.
“I see that he’s going through what I have suffered, they have put him in their sights,” he added.
“I want to say it clearly, I made mistakes; I didn’t have to drink, I didn’t have to behave like that.
“But who doesn’t make a mistake in life? I see myself in Zaniolo again because I’m attacked too, trolled in social media.
“It’s easy to get caught up, the only way is to ignore it, not care.”
He then advised the highly rated Italian youngster on what he needs to do.
“I’m not a teacher of life who gives advice but the only way he can answer is on the pitch; for the rest, he must be strong and move on.
“He will respond to his critics as soon as he starts playing again.”
The former Belgian national team player concluded the interview with the Rome based news outlet by discussing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on football and admitted he would still take the vaccine despite having had the virus a few months ago.
“This year on the pitch, we are defending much more than a result,” he concluded.
“We are defending the league from the virus: it killed football, our lives and finally the world.
“I’m thinking of those who no longer have a job or had to close their businesses.
“I would take the vaccine, even if I should be immune now since I had it.
“I hope the first to be vaccinated are the weakest and the elderly.”
