Rudi Garcia says Radja Nainggolan is a player who Roma are ‘really counting on for next season’, with his co-ownership still unresolved.
The Belgian is jointly owned the the Giallorossi and Cagliari, a situation which must be resolved this summer, and the Coach lauded the midfielder in an interview in his native France.
“He’s 27-years-old, but a lot of people are only finding out about him now,” Garcia told France Football.
Rudi Garcia says Radja Nainggolan is a player who Roma are ‘really counting on for next season’, with his co-ownership still unresolved.
The Belgian is jointly owned the the Giallorossi and Cagliari, a situation which must be resolved this summer, and the Coach lauded the midfielder in an interview in his native France.
“He’s 27-years-old, but a lot of people are only finding out about him now,” Garcia told France Football.
“He can still do even more. He’s a player we’re really counting on for next season.
“In terms of pressing and taking the ball off the opponents, there are very few like him. He’s very strong in the tackle, and has the ability to win the ball and immediately be on the front foot.
“He has phenomenal power, and that allows him to start again quickly when he wins possession back. He always provides a lot of intensity.“He’s a real force of nature, with a great character and a winning mentality – a leader.
“It’s true that Belgium sometimes play him in front of the defence, and obviously he has the qualities necessary to play in that position.
“But the thing is, we’re talking about a complete player, he can play anywhere in midfield.
“He scored against France the other day, and he scored a few goals [6] for Roma this year too.
“He plays like [Marco Verratti] for Paris Saint-Germain or [Arturo] Vidal for Juventus, he goes box-to-box, a player you know will get forward and is extremely fit.
“If you play him in a pair in front of the defence, with a slower but more relaxed player like [Daniele] De Rossi you get the perfect pair.
“That said, he isn’t limited to simply dynamism and desire, he’s technically a very good player.
“He also becomes very interesting when you play him through the middle, close to the goal, although if there’s one area where he needs to improve, it’s that.
“He needs to take advantage of the shot he has on him, and his great ability to get forward quickly, and use those attributes to score more goals and get more assists.”