‘We Put Out A Statement’: SPAL Dream Big With Radja Nainggolan Signing

Forbes Business SportsMoney ‘We Put Out A Statement’: SPAL Dream Big With Radja Nainggolan Signing Daniele Proch Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I write about Italy’s Serie A. Following Jan 28, 2023, 02:47pm EST | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin AS Roma’s Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan looks on during the Italian Serie A football match .

. . [+] Cagliari vs AS Roma on May 6, 2018 at the Sardegna Arena in Cagliari.

(Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images 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. Joe Tacopina, president of Serie B soccer club SPAL, at Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara, Emilia .

. . [+] Romagna, Italy SPAL 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.

MORE FOR YOU The ‘Backsies’ Billionaire: Texan Builds Second Fortune From Wreckage Of Real Estate Empire He’d Sold Sam Bankman-Fried Bought This Washington DC Townhouse, Now For Sale At Exactly What He Paid For It Warner’s UK Studios Report Record Revenue 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. ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 18: (L-R) Radja Nainggolan of AS Roma, Daniele de Rossi of AS Roma celebrates .

. . [+] the victory during the Italian Serie A match between AS Roma v Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on November 18, 2017 in Rome Italy (Photo by Aaron van Zandvoort/Soccrates/Getty Images) Getty Images 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. ” Fans of Spal during the Italian soccer Serie B match SPAL vs AC Pisa on December 26, 2022 at the . .

. [+] Paolo Mazza stadium in Ferrara, Italy (Photo by Gabriele Masotti/LiveMedia/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images 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. ” Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn . Daniele Proch Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.