Radja Nainggolan: Roma midfielder joins Inter in £33m swap deal

Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has joined Serie A rivals Inter Milan.

The former Belgium international, 30, who quit international football after failing to make his country's World Cup squad, has signed a four-year contract.

The deal values Nainggolan at £33m, with Inter paying £21m and including defender Davide Santon and midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo.

"Unfortunately fairytales come to an end, and not always by choice," Nainggolan said on Instagram.

Nainggolan, who joined Roma in 2014, only signed a new four-year deal with the club last summer.

He reached the Champions League semi-finals with Roma in May.

The move sees him reunited with former Roma boss Luciano Spalletti at the San Siro.

"I am happy to have found him again," said Nainggolan.

"Why did I choose Inter? The important thing is to feel the trust, the assistant director, the coach and [vice president] Javier Zanetti have called me, they made me feel important, my choice It was simple, I'm full of new adventure."

Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio said the signing was a "real coup" for the club.

Meanwhile, Paris St-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore has completed a move to Roma.

Roma announced Radja Nainggolan's signing with a mocked up version of Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport

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10 comments

Comment posted by CallumM, at 11:50 26 Jun 2018
Seems an odd move. At best it's a move sideways, very plausible to suggest a move downwards considering Roma's season last year. Cannot really see Inter making that much of a mark next year either, they seem out-balanced. Still, they're getting a tidy player who's just about in his prime
Comment posted by Champwhorunsthecamp, at 18:09 26 Jun 2018
Very Shrewd day of business, added some back up to the defense and got a talented attacking midfielder/forward and only cost the club 0.8 million. Very shrewd day of transfer dealings at Roma
Comment posted by JarlStreamus, at 17:10 26 Jun 2018
will they let him smoke tabs at inter then ?
Comment posted by doodle1978, at 15:26 26 Jun 2018
Henderson is a terrible player and not in the same stratosphere as Nainggolan. This obsession with average Liverpool players has to stop.
And this move reeks of money. No one would choose to live in Milan over Rome. Roma are a better side atm too. He is a very good player not sure why numpty Martinez didn’t take him to the WC. They got him for relatively cheap money too. Good luck to him.
Comment posted by Yeahbaby, at 14:48 26 Jun 2018
Why is it an odd move?
Maybe he likes the idea of living in Milan and playing for a massive club. It's not beyond belief really is it, pretty sure he'll get a decent salary too.
Comment posted by chris , at 12:06 26 Jun 2018
Where did this come from? Whenever I heard about him supposedly leaving Roma, he was going Chelsea.
Comment posted by Daniel Sturridge should not be a Footballer, at 22:14 26 Jun 2018
Tampa bay's biggest Hammer here!

Nainggolan is an overrated nincompoop. People overrate him because he scores a longshot every 15 games when in reality, he is a burden on any team that he plays for.

As for Pastore, we rejected him as he's not good enough to play for West Ham anyway.

Who needs Pastore when you have Mark Noble!

#COYI
#MarkNoble4BallonD'or
Comment posted by Phil Deggers, at 12:54 26 Jun 2018
Would have been an ideal Arsenal signing, a strong centre mid. Surprised more teams didn't go for him as there won't be many of his quality available at that price.
Comment posted by Euphemian, at 23:45 25 Jun 2018
Henderson > Nainggolan
Comment posted by Adams Apple, at 01:37 26 Jun 2018
Euphemian
Henderson World Cup > nainggolan no World Cup. Believe it or not Henderson is actually a very good player if you bothered to watch him for a full 90 mins instead of listening to what people tell you to think about the guy