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Radja Nainggolan has vowed to snub Chelsea to stay at Roma - Spalletti

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti says he is confident Radja Nainggolan will not follow Miralem Pjanic out of the club this summer by turning down his proposed move to Premier League side Chelsea.

Pjanic caused outrage among Roma fans by requesting and successfully completing a move to their arch rivals Juventus, after triggering a release clause in his contract.

Sources told ESPN FC in April that Nainggolan was a target for Chelsea, and the player himself confirmed last week that incoming Stamford Bridge boss Antonio Conte and Belgium teammates Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois wanted him to move to West London.

However, Spalletti says the midfielder has given him his word that he will stay on with the Giallorossi next season.

"He's promised me that he's going to stay here," Spalletti said in Florence, reports La Gazzetta dello Sport. "He wants to carry on playing in the position where he's playing under me."

Edin Dzeko is another player Spalletti says he hopes to keep hold of, in spite of a disappointing first season with the Giallorossi after signing him from Manchester City.

"We're counting on him also next year," Spalletti said. "He's got quality which he's not yet been able to express. His heart is in it and we want to take a look at the potential he showed before coming to Roma.

"We're glad we have him in our squad. There were times when I didn't play him because I've got other players to consider too, but he made his contribution, helping us gain the position we finished in."

Meanwhile, Spalletti has defended Pjanic from the criticism he has received from angry Roma fans.

"When you insert these clauses in a contract and then they get activated, what can you say?" Spalletti said.

"Football's open for anybody to act the way they wish nowadays. Pjanic was an important player for us and he's going to be important for Juve too.

"But he's truly an exceptional lad and it makes no sense to criticise him. We're losing a great player, but we've got another one in [Kevin] Strootman, who's getting back to full fitness now.

"Juventus are the strongest team around and we've got to make the most of our collective game if we want to reach their level."

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