Insider reveals Conte met with top 29-year-old to discuss Chelsea move last summer
Serie A expert James Horncastle has revealed that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte tried to convince Roma's Radja Nainggolan to move to London last summer
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte met with Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan last summer but failed to convince the midfielder to move to Stamford Bridge, according to James Horncastle.
The Belgium international was heavily linked with a move to the west London club but Chelsea failed to get a deal across the line as Nainggolan remained committed to Roma.
Unsurprisingly, the dynamic midfielder has been linked with a move to the Premier League again this summer with both Chelsea and Manchester United interested.
However, Nainggolan is also in discussions with AS Roma about signing a new deal which could put pay to a potential move to the English top flight.
Serve A expert Horncastle revealed that Conte went to great lengths to try and sign the 29-year-old in the 2016 summer transfer window.
“Antonio Conte was very big on Nainggolan. Apparently he met him in Roma last summer,” Horncastle told the Football Weekly podcast.
Nainggolan scored 11 goals and made five assists in 35 Serie A games in 2016-17 season.
Chelsea have only signed Willy Caballero so far this summer despite winning the Premier League title in May.
Manchester United have brought in Sweden international Victor Lindelof from Portuguese champions Benfica.
