Roma’s meeting with Cristian Chivu’s Inter arrives as an early measure of the capital club’s progress under Gian Piero Gasperini, with former midfielder Radja Nainggolan insisting that the Nerazzurri remain the team to beat over the full Scudetto campaign.
Key takeaways
- Nainggolan still places Inter ahead of the field in the title race.
- He sees the fixture as an important test of whether Roma have overcome a familiar obstacle against leading opponents.
- The Olimpico will be sold out for the match.
- Nainggolan believes Paulo Dybala has the quality to influence the contest.
- The former Belgium international said leaving Roma hurt more than joining Inter pleased him.
An examination for Roma, and a familiar Inter standard
Nainggolan, who represented both clubs during his career, offered a measured reading of the weekend’s main Serie A fixture. Roma have made a positive start and possess a strong squad, he said, but matches of this stature have often exposed their limits in previous seasons.
For that reason, he regards Inter’s visit as more than another demanding afternoon. “This year it will show whether Roma really have something extra,” he said, while joking that Inter’s status as favourites should remove some pressure from the Giallorossi.
His assessment of Chivu’s side was rooted in the depth built at the club. Inter are well assembled, he argued, have reached a Champions League final and can call upon significant options beyond the starting side. In his view, Napoli’s Scudetto triumph last season owed as much to Inter surrendering the title as it did to Napoli winning it.
The match itself, Nainggolan expects, will be difficult for both teams. He identified Dybala as a player capable of creating the decisive moment, a reminder that Roma’s hopes against the division’s leading contenders will rest not only on collective improvement but also on the imagination of their key individuals.
The Olimpico, Champions nights and an enduring Roman bond
The sold-out Olimpico will provide the setting, and Nainggolan reflected on how sharply the atmosphere has changed since his own years in Rome. He credited José Mourinho with helping bring supporters back into the stadium, describing a fuller, louder ground as an experience that left a strong impression on him.
He also looked ahead to Roma’s Champions League meeting with Mourinho’s Real Madrid. Such occasions, he said, had been absent for too long, and the supporters deserve them. For Nainggolan, a Roma-Real Madrid night represents the finishing touch after the club’s return to Europe’s leading competition; qualifying for the Champions League is, in itself, “a trophy”.
His attachment to Roma remains undiminished. Nainggolan said he would never have chosen to leave the club, where he felt respected by the public and gave everything on the pitch. He explained that his character made it difficult for him to remain where he encountered conduct that conflicted with his values.
Asked at the time whether he was happier to be joining Inter or sadder to be leaving Roma, he said the second feeling was stronger. He added that he had turned down approaches from Chelsea and from China in order to stay in the capital.
Looking at the current Roma forward line, Nainggolan felt he would have suited it well. He contrasted Malen’s runs behind opposing defences with the way Edin Dzeko used to receive and retain the ball, and said he would have enjoyed playing alongside this version of the team.
