SPAL Dream Big With Radja Nainggolan Signing

Radja Nainggolan, a former Roma and Inter Milan midfielder, has agreed to join Italy’s Serie B side SPAL.

“We really put out a statement that SPAL is making a move this year,” said Joe Tacopina, SPAL’s president and Italian soccer’s most experienced American owner, in our latest conversation.

Nainggolan, who is set to ink a five-month contract that will be automatically extended in case SPAL get promoted to Serie A, used to boast the reputation as one of Italian soccer’s best midfielders in the 2010s.

After developing in Serie B with Piacenza, Nainggolan broke through during his 2010-14 stint at Sardinia-based club Cagliari, where he earned “the ninja” nickname for his determination to fight on every loose ball. He then took off for bigger Serie A destinations, namely Roma and Inter Milan, enjoyed another spell at Cagliari and eventually returned to his homeland in 2021, where he signed with Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League.

Nainggolan, now 34, also represented the Belgium national team for a decade, taking part in the UEFA Euro 2016 and partnering up with some of our era’s most talented midfielders like Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard.

Despite his modest 5-foot-9 stature, Nainggolan has always stood out for his physical strength and enviable athleticism, two traits that he combines with good technique and the ability to make sharp decisions in possession. An all-round, attack-minded midfielder, he is often seen scoring goals thanks to his powerful shot and timely runs off the ball.

While being admired for his dedication and work ethic, his off-the-pitch antics have sometimes become a target for criticism from the media and soccer community, causing tensions between him and the club to escalate on more than one occasion.

Now, Nainggolan has a chance to begin a new chapter in Italian soccer, featuring in the same league where he made his professional debut back in 2006.

At SPAL, he will work under the leadership of head coach Daniele Rossi, his former teammate and captain at Roma.

“We know that Radja (Nainggolan) is unique,” quipped Tacopina, who was the vice president at Roma when Nainggolan joined the Giallorossi back in 2014. “But we believe that with Daniele (De Rossi) here, he’ll be a very positive influence on our locker room.”

With Serie A experiencing little action in this January transfer session, the Nainggolan signing stands out as one of the most exciting calciomercato deals.

SPAL, who are currently sitting 15th in the Serie B table but remain within touching distance to the league playoffs, have never hidden their ambitions to return to Italy’s top-flight. Adding a high-profile player like Nainggolan might provide the kind of experience and leadership that the team needs to chase the much coveted Serie A promotion.

“To have a world-class player playing in Serie B is something very exciting for Serie B, and especially for SPAL. He is going to elevate the skill set of this team,” said Tacopina, who is confident that his side has every reason to dream big.

“I want to win the playoffs.”