After he was left out of the Belgium squad for the Russia 2018 FIFA world cup, Nainggolan boasts that just like Maradona there is no player like him in Belgium, asking Roberto Martinez to judge his football and not his shenanigans off the field of play.
The AS Roma man who in a rant on his social media page, likened himself the football legend, said as for him, the Argentine was a great footballer, but his personality off the pitch is nothing to write home about. But he made sure he puts aside all that when on the field of play to give 100% both for his club side and country.
So, the Belgian is asking for same treatment from Coach Martinez and not his personality off the field of play.
The man who is mostly liked by fans, said his teammates were all shocked that he did not make the team, after being a regular before the new coach. He took to his social media to hint that he was done being angry as is of no use again, since his childhood dream has been cut short. He said:
I’m like that, I do not wear masks, I can not do anything about it. I’m tired of always being painted like a bad boy. Football is still a hobby for me. All right, now it’s become my job, but I want to be judged for my performance, not for what I do outside the field. Should we speak otherwise of Maradona for this reason? Everyone is free to do what he wants if he plays well in the field. Do you think all the players are good guys? I’m not ashamed of it. I can say with certainty that a player like me in Belgium does not exist. My own national teammates also affirm this.
Now I have enough, I do not want to fight anymore. I started playing football to be able to look for a day to go to the World was a dream of mine as a child and now I was taken away.