Former Inter midfielder Radja Nainggolan‘s time at Antwerp may end prematurely.
The Belgian club suspended the 34-year-old midfielder “indefinitely” after he was filmed smoking on the bench in the build-up to his side’s 3-0 loss to Standard Liege.
“We had a conversation with him about certain situations and we have decided to remove him from the team indefinitely for behaviour that reflects a negative image of the team,” Antwerp said in a statement after the midfielder was caught vaping.
Nainggolan, who left Serie A this summer after playing last season on loan at Cagliari from Inter, signed a two-season contract with the Belgian club.
Speaking to France Football last year, the midfielder said he was “a normal person, not a bad boy” and that he believed “footballers should be able to smoke”.
“It’s his problem if he retires at 30 instead of 35”
Marc Wilmots, Belgium coach during Euro 2016, did not hide it.
“Yes, Radja smokes. It’s a habit and a lot of people do it in France and Italy. I’m not going to stop him if that’s what he needs,” he told Sporza.be.
“I am flexible when it comes to matters like this. It’s his body. I’m fine with that as long as he performs on the field.
“I always make sure he has a room with a balcony, so he doesn’t set off the smoke alarm. I think he would wreck his room if we banned him from smoking five or six cigarettes a day. It’s his problem if he retires at 30 instead of 35.”