Garcia admits he knew Nainggolan smoked but overlooked it during his Roma tenure
Opinion·6 June 2026·2h ago

Garcia admits he knew Nainggolan smoked but overlooked it during his Roma tenure

Source: Forza Roma

Rudi Garcia, former Roma manager and current Belgium coach, has spoken about his relationship with midfielder Radja Nainggolan during his time at the club. In an interview with Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad, Garcia praised Nainggolan's abilities: "Radja, what a player. Rarely have I seen a footballer with such an incredible shot, such high athleticism and such rapid recovery capacity." Garcia acknowledged Nainggolan's unprofessional lifestyle, saying: "Yes, of course I knew that Radja smoked. But as long as he performed on the pitch, I didn't care."

Garcia reflected on Nainggolan's impact during Roma's title challenges, noting that the midfielder arrived to strengthen the squad after Kevin Strootman's injury, joining established midfield figures Miralem Pjanic and Daniele De Rossi. The manager highlighted Nainggolan's paradox—his carefree approach was simultaneously a weakness and a strength, allowing him to play with natural spontaneity that generated significant impact on the pitch.

Garcia also referenced comparable situations at other clubs, mentioning a goalkeeper at Roma—later identified as Wojciech Szczesny at Arsenal—who smoked in the dressing room in England. The former coach's comments underscore a pragmatic approach to player management, prioritizing on-field performance over strict behavioral control.

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L'ex allenatore giallorosso esce allo scoperto: "Anche Szczesny lo faceva. In Inghilterra fumava nello spogliatoio" Redazione 6 giugno - 13:29 VIDEO - Nainggolan: "Guendouzi è una pippa. Milinkovic me lo mettevo sempre in tasca" Rudi Garcia, ex allenatore della Roma oggi ct del Belgio, ha rilasciato una lunga intervista al quotidiano belga Nieuwsblad nella quale ha parlato anche del suo rapporto con Nainggolan: "Radja, che giocatore. Raramente ho visto un calciatore con un tiro così incredibile, un'atleticità così elevata e una capacità di recupero così rapida. Con la Roma siamo arrivati ​​secondi due volte. La prima volta, grazie al centrocampo forte: Miralem Pjanic, Daniele De Rossi e Kevin Strootman. De Rossi era un vero leader, Strootman si infortunò e Radja arrivò a rinforzarci". Queste le prime parole di Garcia che ha poi proseguito parlando delle caratteristiche di Nainggolan: "Era potente, ma giocava anche con spontaneità. Come se fosse in un campetto da gioco. Eppure ha avuto un grande impatto. Si potrebbe dire che Nainggolan avrebbe avuto una carriera ancora più brillante se avesse vissuto in modo più professionale, ma comunque quell'atteggiamento spensierato era uno dei suoi punti di forza". Sui vizi del centrocampista ha poi concluso: "Sì, certo che sapevo che Radja fumava. Ma finché rendeva in campo, non mi importava. Avevamo anche un portiere alla Roma (Wojciech Szczesny all'Arsenal, ndr) che fumava nello spogliatoio in Inghilterra, con grande disappunto del suo allenatore". © RIPRODUZIONE RISERVATA Commenta Continua la lettura News AS Roma Roma tra Serie A e Champions: tutti gli incastri tra il campionato e la coppa News AS Roma Del Piero: "Totti ed io rappresentavamo due fazioni, ma c'è sempre stato rispetto" News AS Roma Capello: "Il calendario della Roma non è semplice. Tanti big match nelle prime dieci" Radio Pensieri 'RADIO PENSIERI', PRUZZO: "Sono preoccupato per le cessioni, non per i rinnovi" Commenti Invia Commento Tutti Leggi altri commenti

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