MORE NEWS – “Radja is lively, a scoundrel. But he is certainly not a delinquent.” Word of Walter Sabatini, sports executive, 69: a long resume of teams in his career, from Perugia and Lazio to Inter and Salernitana. And Roma, where in 2014 he brought precisely Nainggolan, buying him from Cagliari. These are his words released to La Repubblica.
Sabatini, have you read about the investigation in which Nainggolan is involved?
“I don’t think he could have done anything that deserves jail time. He is a man who cannot even go to the police station, other than jail. He is a good guy, of generous goodness, and sometimes this generosity leads him to do things that are a bit naive. But we are talking about a healthy boy, a little frivolous, maybe.”
What was the one thing that angered her the most?
“I think I had to address him the full range of insults. But always hopelessly: I would scold him, he would make a sorry face, and the next day he would do the same things again. If he can tell you a few lies he tells you, and no one has ever been able to put a stop to him. But from here to being a delinquent is a long way.”
Were there more serious cases as long as you were his director?
“Never, with him I never had to intervene for really serious things. His mischief was playing hooky with friends, maybe coming home late at night. But then on the field he gave everything, never missed a game.”
When did you last hear from him?
“I saw him two months ago: he has a very friendly relationship with my son Santiago, and he did a broadcast with him for a podcast: he was here at home more than an hour, he told about himself as he knows how, with that generosity I was talking about.”
Was he surprised that a week ago he had decided to return to the game by signing with a Belgian minor league team?
“No, I was not surprised at all. Radja cannot be without playing, he lives knowing what time it is only because he plays soccer, if not he would not even know the month he is living in: having the game he knows more or less what day and what month we are talking about. He’s definitely a bit reckless, naive, but I’m convinced he couldn’t have been guilty of a crime that needs to be prosecuted.”
Source: republic.co.uk
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Article Sabatini: “Radja is a scapegoat, but not a delinquent. With him I used every possible insult” comes from Giallorossi.net, exclusive news, news and soccer market.
