Radja Nainggolan on Roma vs Inter: A Reality Check
Radja Nainggolan has no doubts about who sets the standard in Serie A right now. For him, Roma’s meeting with Inter at the Stadio Olimpico is not just a big game. It’s a reality check.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Roma and Inter midfielder put the champions on a different level in the title race, underlining the depth and maturity of Cristian Chivu’s squad after their recent runs to two Champions League finals.
“Inter today are a well-built team, they have reached two Champions League finals and have important reserves,” Nainggolan said. “The Scudetto that Napoli won two seasons ago was lost by Inter, in my opinion. Today they have no rivals, but respecting your opponent does not mean not attacking.”
That is the bar Roma must measure themselves against. For Nainggolan, this is exactly what makes the game so revealing for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side: a test of how far their evolution has really gone.
Goalkeepers under the spotlight
Nainggolan sees the match tilting on details at the back. Not just defensive structure, but the men in goal.
He praised Mile Svilar’s calm and consistency, arguing that Roma already know what they are getting from their goalkeeper. Inter, on the other hand, walk into the Olimpico with a different kind of tension around Josep Martinez after some recent mistakes.
“Svilar did very well last year and is confirming it, while Martinez is in his first year as a starter and you feel the pressure,” he noted.
In a game decided by moments, Nainggolan believes that kind of pressure can weigh heavy.
Dybala the difference-maker
When it comes to attacking inspiration, Nainggolan did not hesitate. He picked Paulo Dybala as the player most likely to tilt the contest Roma’s way.
“Dybala can make the difference in these games, he is a fantastic player,” he said.
If Roma are to hurt Inter’s armour-plated structure, Nainggolan is convinced it will be Dybala who finds the crack.
How to handle Lautaro
Nainggolan’s focus then moved to the tactical duel, especially around Inter captain Lautaro Martinez. The choice of Roma’s central defender, he argued, cannot be a gamble.
“Ndicka or Balerdi? All of Roma's defenders are performing, but for a game like this and against such a strong opponent, playing Balerdi can be risky,” he explained. “I would play with those who are most stable.”
Stability over experiments. Against Lautaro, that is non-negotiable in Nainggolan’s eyes.
He also highlighted Roma’s broader tactical growth under Gasperini, picking out Gianluca Mancini’s forward runs as a key attacking weapon from deep. Those surges, timed correctly, can change the rhythm of a match that might otherwise be played on Inter’s terms.
Old wounds, lasting bond
For Nainggolan, Roma–Inter is never just another fixture. The Belgian admitted that his emotional bond with Roma still runs deep, and that games like this stir something different in him.
He recalled how, in 2018, he felt forced out of the club and pushed towards Inter by what he described as lies from Roma officials, despite having previously turned down offers from Chelsea and from China to remain in the capital. That sense of unfinished business colours how he watches Roma today.
Yet there is admiration too. He likes what Gasperini is building, especially the attacking intent, and even allowed himself a small footballing daydream: he would have enjoyed playing in this Roma, particularly alongside forward Donyell Malen in such an aggressive system.
Now comes the hard part for his old club. Inter arrive as the team to beat, armed with depth, experience and a ruthless streak. Roma arrive with momentum, tactical growth and a chance to show they truly belong on that level.
The stage is set at the Olimpico. The question is whether Roma are ready to smash through their limits, or whether Inter will simply confirm they are still operating on a different plane.
