"My client has formally denied any involvement in drug trafficking." Radja Nainggolan's lawyer, Omar Souidi, has announced that his client has rejected the accusations and points out that the former Cagliari midfielder has not been charged at this time. "We are now waiting to find out whether my client will be brought before the investigating judge," the lawyer told the Belgian press after his arrest this morning .

Nainggolan was questioned in the offices of the Brussels Judicial Police, in the presence of his lawyer. The investigation led to about thirty searches between Antwerp and Brussels itself, including one in the player's home . The former Cagliari, Roma and Inter midfielder signed with the second division team Lokeren last week, where he made his debut with a goal directly from a corner. Before the agreement, he was on the verge of returning to Italy to play five-a-side football with Roma.

De Standaard, a Dutch daily, then reported that Nainggolan's car (a gray Smart Brabus deluxe version, with a personalized license plate) had been removed from his home. "The fact that my client has to answer certain questions does not mean that he has anything to do with this case," stressed Souidi, who also added that the Ninja had cooperated and answered questions during the interrogation. "He is a footballer, not a criminal."

In a statement, Lokeren said they learned of the arrest from the press and are not making any further statements, respecting the presumption of innocence. Nainggolan was expected to train this morning, but did not show up . "The club now wishes to focus exclusively on tomorrow night's recovery match at Eupen, where he would not have been available in any case," his club said.

(Unioneonline/r.sp.)

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