Nainggolan: I hope Totti returns to Roma, ‘I could still play in Serie A’ | OneFootball

Former Serie A star Radja Nainggolan feels he could still play in Serie A as ‘the level has dropped’ and hopes Francesco Totti will be offered a director role at Roma.

Former Roma, Cagliari and Inter star Nainggolan spoke about Totti’s possible return to the Stadio Olimpico during an interview with Manà Manà Sport (via Calciomercato.com) on Friday.

Claudio Ranieri revealed earlier this week that Roma owners are considering offering a role to the Giallorossi legend, and Nainggolan is very much in favour of Totti’s return.

‘Interesting’ to see Totti’s Roma return

WUHAN, CHINA – NOVEMBER 26: Former Italian football player Francesco Totti reacts during the 2023 World Super-footballer Games between American Star Team and European Star Team at Wuhan Sports Center on November 26, 2023 in Wuhan, China. (Photo by Wang He/Getty Images)

“I talk as a friend, not as a neutral person. I know that if you talk about Roma, you talk about Totti,” he said.

“I was at Inter, and Javier Zanetti was there as a vicepresident. Why can’t Totti do it? I think it’d be very interesting. He’s a man of football and loves Roma. I don’t know why it shouldn’t work.”

Nainggolan also shared his view on the state of Serie A football, arguing that he could still play in Italy’s top flight.

Nainggolan: ‘Serie A level has dropped’

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 25: Radja Nainggolan of FC Internazionale looks on during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 25, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

“I could still play in this Serie A. The level has dropped,” he said.

“Take this Roma team; which of their players would have played during my time? Maybe Svilar and Dybala. It’s not to attack the Roma players, but this is the level. Holm joined Juventus, and back in the days, they had Dani Alves. This is today’s quality. If Koné is worth €60m, what should have been my value? €150m? I joined Inter for €38m.”

Nainggolan, 37, has resumed his playing career in the January window, joining Patro Eisden in the Belgian second division.

Although he’s only won a Coppa Italia during his career, Nainggolan is seen as one of the best Serie A midfielders of the past decade.

Nainggolan scored 48 goals and provided 35 assists in 367 appearances in Serie A, where he played with Cagliari, Roma and Inter.