Radja Nainggolan says his move back to Cagliari proves ‘I don’t play for money’ and that ‘this is the year we step up a level.’
Nainggolan had been a Champions League regular with Roma and Inter, but the midfielder chose to return to Cagliari, partly so his cancer-stricken wife could be closer to her family.
“I’d received offers from China and I needed to talk to someone,” the 31-year-old told Cuore RossoBlu.
Radja Nainggolan says his move back to Cagliari proves ‘I don’t play for money’ and that ‘this is the year we step up a level.’
Nainggolan had been a Champions League regular with Roma and Inter, but the midfielder chose to return to Cagliari, partly so his cancer-stricken wife could be closer to her family.
“I’d received offers from China and I needed to talk to someone,” the 31-year-old told Cuore RossoBlu.
“[Daniele] Conti helped me and I’m very happy with the decision I made. The President did well to convince me.
“I don’t play for money. The best feeling I’ve had in the last few days is the one that I never left.
“It’s like the rest of my career was a parenthesis that eventually brought me back here.
“In fact it’s the truth, I never left: here I have my family and some of the people I love the most.
“I have my holidays here, my wife is here. The people here have always loved me. For me, the team is like a family. Anything can happen, but you still belong to them.
“We must grow in terms of mentality after years of staying up. I know that when you play for a Champions League club, everything is easier, even on a mental level.
“For us, this is the year we step up a level.”