Belgique : Radja Nainggolan regrette d’avoir choisi les Diables rouges au détriment de l’Indonésie !
This is a statement that is likely to cause controversy in Belgium. At 38, Radja Nainggolan has a different perspective on his international career. The former AS Roma and Inter Milan midfielder admits that he perhaps should have represented Indonesia, his father's country, rather than Belgium. It's a choice he never imagined he would question at the beginning of his career.
In an interview with Het Belang van Limburg, the former Belgian international discussed the reasons that led him to choose the Red Devils. At the time, his ties with Indonesia were virtually non-existent, largely due to his father's absence since his childhood.
“I couldn’t hesitate about the national team because I didn’t know the country. When I was about five years old, my father left. I never saw him again,” he explained.
His discovery of Indonesia came in 2013, during a two-week stay. This trip allowed him to better understand his roots and appreciate the importance of football in the country. But it was already too late to consider switching national teams: Nainggolan had made his debut for Belgium in 2009.
Indonesia, a missed opportunity?
Looking back, the midfielder believes that an international career with Indonesia could have offered him other opportunities. He was particularly struck by the fans' enthusiasm and the significant economic benefits associated with local football.
"There are 70,000 people for a small match against Vietnam or Iraq, they are so passionate. There is also a huge amount of money circulating," he confided, also highlighting the opportunities that a high profile can represent in this country.
But his regrets seem primarily linked to how his time with Belgium ended under Roberto Martinez. Despite his time with the Red Devils, Nainggolan clearly feels a sense of unfinished business regarding his international career.
“At the time, I didn’t think about it, but now that I’m 38, I see things differently. Especially when I look at my international career here and how it ended under Martinez. I could have had fifteen years of international career with Indonesia,” he lamented.
These comments illustrate the former player's reflections on a choice made at a time when his Indonesian roots held little importance in his life. Now, Nainggolan appreciates what he might have experienced wearing a different jersey.
Commentaires (7)
Personne ne l'a approche pour l'attirer vers l'Indonésie.
Le médecin après la mort!!!
Ils prennent les gens pour des cons.
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