In a recent interview, soccer's multi-faceted Nainggolan fondly recalled his career at Inter and Roma and spoke highly of former teammate Romelu Lukaku, as well as sharing his experience of working with two renowned coaches, Conte and Spalletti.
Speaking about Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who now plays for Napoli, Nainggolan was full of praise: "Lukaku's mentality is the key to his success. He has a strong desire to win and a resilient character, which allows him to always give his best on the pitch. His characteristics and style of play will undoubtedly bring great impact to Napoli. Looking back, his performances at Inter proved this, as his goals helped the team win the league title. For this season, I firmly believe that Lukaku can continue to play well, scoring at least 30 goals and becoming the team's weapon in attacking the city."
Talking about his farewell to Roma, Nainggolan's tone revealed a hint of regret: "I do regret leaving Roma. It was a complicated situation, Monchi tried hard to sell me and I couldn't accept working with a coach who didn't agree with me. It was a difficult decision, but I think that in our careers we need to make the most appropriate choices for ourselves and for the future."
Speaking about his two former managers Conte and Spalletti, Nainggolan gave a fair assessment: "I had a great time working with Spalletti. We worked very well together and he was always able to bring out the best in me. Conte is also a great coach, and even though I was no longer his first choice player at Inter, he still treated me in a professional manner and made it clear where I stood. That honesty made me respect him a lot. Interestingly, when he was coaching at Chelsea, he even went out of his way to want me on his team, which proves once again his standing and influence in the coaching world."
