Roma boss Luciano Spalletti has put Chelsea target Radja Nainggolan under pressure by revealing the player assured him he would stay in Italy.
The Belgian is wanted by incoming Blues manager Antonio Conte as part of his rebuilding project at Stamford Bridge next season.
Conte has already personally spoken to Nainggolan about a move while international team-mates Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard are also persuading him to join them.
“He already wanted me when he was the Juve manager, but I’d already said I would never leave Roma for Juve,” said Nainggolan.
“Now he tries to get me to Chelsea. Conte told me what he expects from me and what type of player I can be for him.
“I can be important for a team. A manager who appreciates that is important for me. But they [Hazard and Courtois] have also told me to join them.”
Nainggolan is away on Euro 2016 duty with the Chelsea pair and Hazard has publicly stated he would love for the midfielder to sign for the Premier League giants.
The Blues have already seen a bid rejected for Nainggolan but are ready to table another offer in excess of £30million to prise him away from the Stadio Olimpico.
However, Roma chief Spalletti has warned Conte he is wasting his time in pursuing his star man this summer.
Spalletti said: “Radja is a man of his word and he promised me he will stay.
“I spoke to him and he seemed enthusiastic about continuing to give us his contribution next season.”
Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel will both be sweating on their Chelsea places in the side if Nainggolan does pitch up at the Bridge this summer.
Mikel has enjoyed a renaissance under interim manager Guus Hiddink , who knew the Nigerian from his first stint as boss, after playing a backup role under Jose Mourinho.
Nainggolan would almost certainly relegate him to that role once again and the player himself could push for an exit if the Belgian does arrive.
Watch: Radja Nainggolan shows his softer side on Snapchat
