Radja Nainggolan stood out last week by becoming the man in the Cup match between Antwerp Global FC and OH Fortuna, two teams from the Antwerp amateur association. It was Davide Catanzaro, co-founder of Antwerp Global, who managed to convince Nainggolan to sign.
“Radja simply loves playing football,” says Davide Catanzaro in Gazette of Antwerp. He reveals with a laugh that Nainggolan didn’t come to play for a big salary, but for a simple reward: “How much did I pay him? He asked for a seafood linguine, that was enough.”
I won’t come for free, but €300,000 per year is not exaggerated.”
The midfielder has now been without a professional club for more than three months, but he has no thoughts of ending his career at all. In a recent interview, the former Devil indicated that he would like to play professionally again, but that clubs may find it too expensive. “I won’t come and play for free, but 300,000 euros a year is not an exaggerated salary,” Nainggolan said in the GvA.
However, it seems that Nainggolan is not receiving any offers despite his experience and good physical condition. As for form, Catanzaro confirms. “He would be an asset to every first division club in Belgium.”
The friendship between Nainggolan and Catanzaro is recent. It started when the former professional came to eat at Catanzaro’s restaurant. “We have mutual friends and that’s how we met,” says the restaurateur.
Last Wednesday’s match surprised everyone, since even the OH Fortuna players were not aware of Nainggolan’s participation. “I had to try something to win the match,” jokes Catanzaro. And although it was a friendly match, Nainggolan was full of enthusiasm on the pitch. “He is still in great shape and plays with as much commitment as before.”
Davide Catanzaro is therefore categorical about Nainggolan’s potential: “He arrived half an hour before the match and barely warmed up, but he showed that he still has perfect control of the game. I really don’t understand why no club doesn’t give him a chance with a decent salary,” concludes Catanzaro.
For Nainggolan, football remains a passion and if he cannot play at the highest level, he will happily do so in a local league, as long as he can continue playing.
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