Radja Nainggolan Refutes Claims He Feigned Injury to Miss Belgium Games
Radja Nainggolan returned to score in Saturday's Rome derby, but he insists the injury that kept him out of action for Belgium was genuine.
OMNISPORT
Radja Nainggolan has responded angrily to reports that he faked an injury in order to miss Belgium's friendly double-header against Mexico and Japan.
The Roma midfielder pulled out of the squad with a groin injury after returning to the fold, having previously been overlooked by coach Roberto Martinez.
Some reports in Belgium suggested Nainggolan feigned the ailment to excuse his absence ahead of his scoring return in the Rome derby, but the frustrated 29-year-old responded by pointing out that he would be better served battling for a World Cup place, insisting the claims were not true.
"I read things that are not true, that I faked an injury so I wouldn't have to play for Belgium," Nainggolan wrote on Twitter.
"Why don't you contact the doctors to check my record? You would see I had a tear. The Belgium commentary is rubbish sometimes. I was just injured.
"This week I also didn't train because there was a risk. These are such stupid articles I read.
"A player who was absent for the last squad is eager to prove himself for the World Cup, right? What is going on?"
After sitting out of the international break, Nainggolan struck a brilliant winner for Roma against Lazio on Saturday.
