Nainggolan: Gladiator of the Roma midfield

Date: 26th September 2014 at 8:30am
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When Roma secured the signing of then-Cagliari midfield general Radja Nainggolan in January, the deal was hailed as a coup in some regard with the Giallorossi beating out competition from the likes of Inter, Juventus, AC Milan and Napoli for the tough tackling machine.

The 26-year-old Belgian international came packaged to the capital very highly rated, having proved himself as one the league’s most ruthless and feared midfielders in Sardinia for the last few years.

Despite proving himself as a solid performer for the Giallorossi in his first six months at the club and an able deputy for injured star Kevin Strootman, Nainggolan never really hit the heights that made him one of Serie A’s most complete players, as he was constantly overshadowed by the mesmeric performances of his colleagues Miralem Pjanic and Daniele De Rossi.

This season, however, he has taken his performances to another level and become the undisputed leader of one of the most gifted and functional midfields in Europe. It’s no easy feat standing out amongst the illustrious company of players such as the aforementioned De Rossi, Pjanic and even the very accomplished Seydou Keita, but Nainggolan has managed to be close to, if not the man of the match, in each of Roma’s first five games of the season thus far.

Perhaps it is the dumbfounding omission of Nainggolan from Belgium’s World Cup squad in June that has provided the catalyst for the player’s current stunning form.

The Red Devils boss Marc Wilmots has never taken to Nainggolan – who shockingly has only accrued five caps for his country – during his stint as coach of the national team, and preferred to take Steven Defour (Porto), Moussa Dembele (Tottenham) and Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), all of who endured dismal and under par campaigns when compared to Nainggolan. The Belgian has perhaps conceivably channeled his frustration and anger at missing out on the world’s biggest stage into something positive for his club.

Nainggolan - RomaOr maybe it is the impending return of Dutch superstar Kevin Strootman that has spurred the half-Indonesian to raise his level. Strootman is due to make his comeback in early November from a long-term knee injury, and before the season started Nainggolan seemed the logical choice to drop out of the starting lineup when the classy Dutchman returned.

The Belgian’s performances have thrown a spanner in the works of that idea however, and now the previously untouchable De Rossi and Pjanic are under threat to keep their positions, not the fiery midfielder.

Don’t let Nainggolan’s ‘tough guy’ image, with his tattoos and blonde Mohawk, fool you into thinking he is some sort of footballing thug. The Belgian possesses a quality touch and outstanding technique, which was put on show in the opening game of the season against Fiorentina where he scored and assisted a goal in a 2-0 victory.

The assist in particular for Gervinho’s goal was a beautifully executed, well timed through ball that left the Ivorian catching it in his stride.

This season we’re seeing the real Radja Nainggolan. Perhaps it was unfair to expect too much from him straight after moving clubs, but the adjustment period and the full pre-season with the squad looks exactly what the doctor ordered for the Belgian.

We are seeing the fearless, confident and poised player that we saw for Cagliari, and he is slowly becoming more important to this Giallorossi outfit. The previously indispensable Strootman may find himself waiting on the sidelines a while longer if Nainggolan keeps this form up.

 

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