Nainggolan was born inAntwerp,[5] the son of Lizy Bogaerts, aBelgian ofFlemish origin who raised him with his three half brothers and histwin sister,[6][7] and Marianus Nainggolan, anIndonesian ofToba Batak background and member of theBatak Christian Protestant Church.[8] He was raised in Kiel, a working-class and multicultural neighbourhood of the city.[9] His father abandoned the family when Nainggolan was still a child.[10]
Nainggolan began playing football with Tubantia Borgerhout at the age of five.[16] Seven years later he moved to the youth team ofGerminal Beerschot, where he remained until 2005,[17] when he moved to ItalianSerie B clubPiacenza. He made his senior debut on 28 May 2006 during a home defeat toArezzo, being inserted permanently into the first team the following season.
In the2008–09 campaign, Nainggolan became a starter for theEmilia-Romagna side, playing 38 of 42 games and scoring three goals, which contributed to them avoiding relegation.
In the first part of2010–11, under managerPierpaolo Bisoli, Nainggolan started often due to the absence ofDaniele Conti. On 31 October 2010 he scored his first goal in the Italian top division, from a right-footed volley in a 2–0 home win overBologna.[22] On 31 January 2011, Cagliari redeemed the second half of his contract from Piacenza.[23]
In early October 2013, after three seasons as an undisputed first-choice,[24] Nainggolan agreed to an extension until 2016.[25] His performances with theRossoblu made him especially popular among their fans, who named him in a top 11 list comprising the best players in the history of the Sardinian club.[26]
On 7 January 2014, Nainggolan was loaned to fellow top-flight teamRoma until the end ofthe campaign for a fee of€3 million, with an option to purchase 50% of his rights in the ensuing summer for €6 million.[27][28] He made his debut two days later, starting in a 1–0 home victory overSampdoria for theCoppa Italia which qualified forthe quarter-finals.[29] In the same competition, he also helped dispose ofJuventus in said stage by playing the full 90 minutes at the end of the month.[30]
On 22 February 2014, Nainggolan scored his first goal for the capital side, grabbing the 1–0 winner against Bologna.[31] His second, which arrived on 19 April againstFiorentina (same result), ensured his teamautomatic qualification for theUEFA Champions League.[32]
Nainggolan signed a permanent deal with Roma in the 2015 off-season, for €9 million.[33] On 6 July 2016 he renewed his contract until June 2020,[34][35] extending it a further year the following summer.[36]
On 26 June 2018, Nainggolan signed with Inter Milan for €38 million (€24 million plusDavide Santon andNicolò Zaniolo, valued at €14 million)[37] until June 2022.[38] He scored in his league debut on 1 September, helping the visitors defeat Bologna 3–0,[39] and just over a month later he netted the equaliser in a 2–1 comeback win atPSV in theChampions League group stage to become the first-ever Belgian to score for the club in the competition.[40][41]
In August 2019, Nainggolan returned to Cagliari on aseason-long loan.[42] He was named the league'sMVP for November, with two long-range goals and three assists in three matches to help his team to reach fourth place.[43]
Nainggolan returned to theSardegna Arena on 31 December 2020, again on loan.[44]
On 10 August 2021, Inter Milan announced that Nainggolan's contract with the club had been terminated by mutual consent;[45] four days later, the 33-year-old signed a two-year deal withRoyal Antwerp.[46] He made his debut inhis country's First Division on 22 September, starting in the 4–2 home victory againstGenk.[47] His first goal in the competition was the game's only away to neighbours Beerschot on 5 December, and he dedicated the goal to his late mother whose honour had been insulted by the local fans.[9]
On 17 October 2022, Nainggolan was suspended indefinitely by Antwerp after being arrested for driving with an expired driver's licence and later smoking anelectronic cigarette on the bench ahead of a 3–0 loss atStandard Liége.[48] In December, he left by mutual consent.[49]
After weeks of speculation, on 30 January 2023 Nainggolan officially joined Italian second-tier clubSPAL, coached by former Roma team-mate and friendDaniele De Rossi, on afree transfer, signing a five-month contract with an option for one more season in case of promotion.[50][51][52][53] Not only was this not achieved, they wererelegated as second-bottom.[54]
In late November 2023, Nainggolan agreed to a deal atBhayangkara, being acquired in an effort from the side to avoid relegation from theLiga 1 by replacing several foreign players.[55] He was under contract for the remainder ofthe season, and was reported to be earningIDR 1 billion per month with a bonus of IDR 416 million per appearance;[56] in his first press conference, he admitted that he was not aware of an Indonesian league but would "give his best so that Bhayangkara can remain in Liga 1."[57]
After failing to appear in the previous match againstPSM Makassar,[58] Nainggolan made his debut as a substitute on 17 December in a 3–0 win overPersita Tangerang, his team's first in 17 league games.[59] He scored his only goal on 16 March 2024, in a 2–3 home defeat toDewa United.[60]
Due to his father's heritage, Nainggolan was eligible to represent bothIndonesia andBelgium, but ultimately chose to play for the latter nation.[63] He took part at the2007–09 International Challenge Trophy finals, a tournament which the under-23 team won.[64]
Nainggolan earned his first seniorcap on 29 May 2009, againstChile in theKirin Cup.[65] He scored his first goal for theRed Devils on 5 March 2014, in a 2–2friendly draw withCôte d'Ivoire.[32]
On 13 May 2014, Nainggolan was selected in a standby list for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[66][67] He did not make the final cut, however.
Nainggolan was selected to the finals in France.[71] He made his debut inthe tournament on 13 June, playing 62 minutes in a 2–0 loss againstItaly.[72] After featuring as a second-half substitute in the second game, a 3–0 defeat of theRepublic of Ireland,[73] he returned to the starting XI againstSweden, scoring the game's only goal at theStade de Nice after a counter-attack to send his country to the knockout stage as second;[74] in the quarter-finals, he netted from 25 metres to put his country ahead againstWales after 12 minutes, but in an eventual 3–1 loss.[75]
On 26 August 2017, aged 29, Nainggolan announced that he would be retiring from international football after not being selected for Belgium's upcomingWorld Cup qualifiers, and stated that he would be focusing on his club career with Roma.[76][77] However, he was selected by new managerRoberto Martínez for friendlies againstMexico andJapan in November,[78] only to pull out due to injury.[79]
On 21 May 2018, after once again not being picked for theupcoming World Cup in Russia, Nainggolan retired from the international scene.[80]
Nainggolan is a quick, dynamic, hard-working, physically strong and versatilemidfielder, who is capable of playing in several midfield positions; possessing good vision, passing range, and technique, he is often used as aplaymaker infront of his team's defensive line.[81][82][83][84][85][86] He is also known for his attacking drive, ability to get forward and eye for goal from midfield, courtesy of his powerful and accurate striking ability from distance, as well as his movement and ability to make late attacking runs off the ball; his talent, energy, skill, and wide range of attributes led to him being used in a more offensive role as anadvanced playmaker behind the twoforwards during his time with Cagliari.[82][83][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94]
In addition to his footballing abilities, Nainggolan has also been praised for his leadership in the media,[102] although he has also drawn criticism for his difficult character and his involvement in several controversial incidents off the pitch.[103]
Nainggolan married Claudia Lai,[104] with the couple being parents to daughters Aysha (b. 2012) and Mailey (b. 2016).[105] His twin sister, Riana, is also a footballer;[106] she is openly lesbian and he spoke out against homophobia.[107][108][109]
On 10 July 2019, Lai confirmed in anInstagram post that she had been diagnosed with cancer and would begin chemotherapy treatment.[110]
Nainggolan smoked cigarettes during his playing career.[111] On New Year's Eve 2018, he became the subject of strong controversy in Italy after he posted a video on Instagram cursing, drinking alcohol and smoking.[112]
On 27 January 2025, Nainggolan was arrested by Belgian police as part of an investigation into cocaine-smuggling[114] in thePort of Antwerp. He was charged the next day with "participating in a criminal organisation" as a member, and was released on bail afterwards.[115]
^Schirru, Niccolò (19 October 2010)."Grave lutto per Nainggolan" [Serious mourning for Nainggolan] (in Italian). Tutto Cagliari. Retrieved8 January 2014.
^Casati, Fabio (7 January 2014)."5 cose da sapere su Radja Nainggolan" [5 things you should know about Radja Nainggolan] (in Italian). Squer. Archived fromthe original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved8 January 2014.
^"Welkom op de Bosuil, Radja Nainggolan" [Welcome to the Bosuil, Radja Nainggolan] (Press release) (in Dutch). Royal Antwerp. 14 August 2021. Retrieved15 August 2021.
^Piredda, Claudio (27 January 2010)."Le prime dichiarazioni di Nainggolan" [Nainggolan's first statements] (in Italian). Tutto Cagliari. Retrieved22 March 2017.
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