Radja Nainggolan never ceases to be talked about: the former midfielder for Roma, Cagliari and Inter, nicknamed “The Ninja”, continues to be a protagonist, often more for his behavior off the pitch than for his footballing performances.
The latest episode involving him is sensational: his arrest for drug trafficking, a event's audience which casts further shadows on a career studded with controversies and transgressions. Manolas, his former teammate, called him "a real madman", while others remember him as the footballer who smokes, drinks and frequents casinos and nightclubs without hiding.
Nainggolan has never given up his controversial lifestyle, not even when his habits have gotten him into trouble with the law. Among the various episodes, the accusations of beating his wife Claudia Lai, the arrest for drunk driving and frequent public excesses, such as the famous middle finger to a fan in a club, stand out.
Despite this, the Belgian has always maintained an incredible physical resistance, which he himself attributed to "nature": "My body is not affected by the stupid things I do", he once declared, to the despair of many of his coaches. Among them Luciano Spalletti, who during his time at Roma used to look for him in clubs during the Roman nights, hoping to bring him back into line. Walter Sabatini, former sporting director of the Giallorossi, confessed: "I love him like a son, but sometimes I would have liked him at home to beat him. He is a great footballer, but he is a 'delinquent'."
However, it is not only the dark side that defines Nainggolan. The “bad boy” of football has also shown a human and generous side. In Cagliari he organized charity auctions for the children of Microcitemico and, during his experience in Antwerp, he brought gifts to the young patients of the mental health department. Gestures that reveal a big heart, hidden behind the image of an eternal rebel.
His private life has been no less eventful. Married to Claudia Lai, the two have had a turbulent relationship, with public arguments and difficult moments, such as her illness. Despite their separation, Nainggolan has never signed the documents that officially ended their marriage. Furthermore, his relationships with fans have often been conflictual, as demonstrated by episodes of tension, including an argument at the airport with some Milan supporters.
Despite his excesses, Nainggolan left an indelible mark on the memory of fans, especially in Rome and Cagliari, where he was idolized. What would he have been like with a more regular life? This is the question many are asking. But, perhaps, without that dose of chaos, Nainggolan would not have been the “Ninja”: a pure talent, a rebel without brakes, capable of enchanting on the field and causing discussion off it. A figure who, for better or for worse, has left an indelible mark on football.
Article published on 27 January 2025 - 17:14
Nainggolan's story is very complicated and intriguing, he has done both good and bad things. It is difficult to judge him only for his mistakes, even if some behaviors are unacceptable, but in football it always makes the news.