Radja Nainggolan 4x4: Part I - My four childhood idols

Four questions, four answers for each. A simple format - but how did Roma No. 4 Radja Nainggolan get on?

We sat down with the Belgian midfielder to ask him four questions about his life in football, the players he has seen and come up against - with four responses for each category.

First up - who were his childhood idols?

Xavi

“I’ve been watching him since I was ten years old. He never gets a pass wrong and always plays forwards. He’s an exceptional player, a real example for his position.”

Ronaldinho

“When I used to watch him at Barcelona he was the one that stood out among all the others. He was like a juggler – he always put on a show and caught your attention. He’d leave you glued to the television.”

Ronaldo

“I used to have his poster as a kid. He was an extraordinary striker, one of the best of all time. He was one of the best players at the 1998 World Cup even if France won in the end. Plus he had that unique look that I was really taken with…”

Moussa Dembele

“This is a bit of a strange choice because there’s only a year between us. But we played together in the youth set-up at Beerschot and he’s always been a source of inspiration for me. I’ve learned so much from him.”

To discover Nainggolan's four toughest opponents, click here.

To discover Nainggolan's four greatest midfielders, click here.

To discover Nainggolan's four greatest teammates, click here.