How A "CHAINSMOKING" Party Animal With No Discipline Outplayed Everyone!

These days, the world's game is really missing some of the wild characters that brought the "Rock-Star" quality to retro football. Radja Nainggolan filled that void in the 2010s: the chain-smoking, mohawk-wearing, tattoo-addict, club regular was one of the planet's most recognisable players. It wasn't just his look, but as a box-to-box midfielder, he was a monster, diving into slide tackles with no fear and belting home some screamers, "Il Ninja" is unforgettable!
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:10 - A Tough Start
1:00 - Germinal Beerschot, an Agent & Piacenza
1:56 - Moving Up to Serie A
3:32 - A Painful Loss
4:19 - The Birth of "Il Ninja"
5:22 - AS Roma
6:34 - Snubbed by his National Team, Adored by the Romanisti
7:50 - Enter Luciano Spalletti
8:41 - EURO 2016
9:51 - A New Role
11:23 - "A Season To Remember"
13:27 - No Road to Russia & "tot ziens"
14:06 - A Short Lived Stint in Black & Blue
14:53 - Homecoming
15:37 - A European Swansong & Exploring Indonesia
16:13 - A Generational Maverick
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Music used (in order):
1. Music: 'Dramatic Epic' by SergePavkinMusic
2. "Solas Composer - A Just Ronin" is under a Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) license.
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Soundcloud: / solas_composer
Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: • 🇯🇵 Samurai & Japanese ...
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#nainggolan #football #rome #championsleague #italy #belgium #youtubeislife #subscriber #youtubeguru #youtubecontent #newvideo #subscribers #youtubevideo #youtub #youtuber and #youtubevideos

[@theretroroute]

Who's Next??

[@maxsartini5605]

hamsik

[@woofy2968]

Fred

[@zockerm9101]

Hans Krankl

[@RespecTheLevYT]

Heskey 🐐

[@shafi5845]

Pipo inzaghi

[@royeltea]

Naingollan was incredibly annoying to have in your football manager team because he would always shoot even from 40 yards out, but with 20 longshots you can expect some absolute worldies from him out of nowhere😂

[@lexkanyima2195]

But he has a bad attitude.

[@12thMandalorian]

Use the editor 😉😂

[@gaara4667]

@@12thMandaloriancareful bro That’s taboo in the FM world 😂

[@NoaVanSnick]

​@@lexkanyima2195he didn't, all because he smoked they dropped him and they gave us Fellaini instead who's shit

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@NoaVanSnick Fellaini is a much better player and more humble.

[@sordnassela]

i can't stop thinking about that brace against Inter, that season Nainggolan ad Marek Hamsik were some of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world

[@sixtyseven3264]

Hamsik was a beast that year

[@potatokaiyote]

the mohawk warriors

[@cadian122]

Great comment.. 100 percent spot on

[@user-yn3ug1zm7n]

For 5 minutes, now where is he?

[@iangordon3317]

@@user-yn3ug1zm7n the streets wont forget... there are a lot of players who are so gifted but never made it far. Pato, Ben Arfa,Taarabt etc.. Hamsik and Rajas season was montsrous especially there were other elite midfielders at the time.

[@arnabmitra4348]

Rajda was an elite midfielder . And he was much much better than todays overpaid footballers . The power , work rate strength and stamina he showing on the pitch was remarkable .

[@noblesavvy7803]

mehhh there so much more overpaid footballers I'd take than this guy.

[@ruadhanlyne939]

Like who

[@MrFinbarz]

This was not a very bright thing to say. He is after all a contemporary player really.

[@user-gu2ne7jf5r]

​@@noblesavvy78030 ball knowledge

[@noblesavvy7803]

@@ruadhanlyne939 any starting midfielder from a winning team 🤷

[@sixtyseven3264]

That comeback from Roma against Barca is something made of magic, football is beautiful ❤️

[@cadian122]

It literally made me tear up with Joy

[@arfenmalik1717]

Which player at their peak would opt to join Roma thou His agents must have played him

[@cadian122]

@@arfenmalik1717 your talking about Roma like they are Watford or Metz lol.. They are still a very well recognized club.. and not everyone is gonna play their prime at Madrid or Juve or Milan or Bayern

[@christianolson8543]

Smoking a vape and forgetting to renew your license are the weakest reasons ever for being painted as a “bad boy”. This dude was giving it his all on the pitch. What a joke

[@cesarmolina6233]

Maybe in his hometown he’s the most wanted for that! You never know. Lmao 🤣

[@tosaksanetaweesuk3441]

@@cesarmolina6233he was smoking and drinking on live saying som shit too

[@cs1098]

Jesus that roma midfield was unreal

[@michaeladdisu8043]

they cooked

[@cadian122]

Such a great Diamond

[@DC-YTC]

The FIFA 15 Roma team is my favourite FIFA team ever

[@cadian122]

@@DC-YTC FIFA 14 Real Madrid And FIFA 13 Spurs were God tier for me But I agree the FIFA 15 Roma team was dope

[@lyndxnjoel6917]

Streets will never forget this boy. Thank you for constant class disguised as chaos!

[@enthusiasticbone]

The quality of these documentaries is just outstanding. Thank you.

[@grant4066]

The perfect comment. Just wanted to write something like this and couldnt find the words, then saw this comment.

[@theretroroute]

Means a LOT! Thanks 🙏

[@joechill9146]

If I’m not mistaken Cagliari fans (or the whole club) named him part of their team of the century, one of his loan stints was during their 100th year as a club.

[@theretroroute]

That’s true

[@bob-nw2cn]

He played for Cagliari for 6 years, not just a loan stint as you make it out to be

[@joechill9146]

@@bob-nw2cn I’m aware, his loan stint coincided with their 100th season

[@lwandomadikizela2213]

Radja Nainggolan is that player that is incredible in both offense and defense. A true box to box midfielder that can tackle, intercept, create and score goals. His trademark move is his long distance shooting with high accuracy. Belgium should have took him to Russia and who knows Belgium could have won the World Cup in 2018. Nainggolan is a class player during his peak and Roma were blessed to have him. We'll never get another player like him today.

[@user-ym7xp2zc1p]

17:13

[@rabi8053]

Nainngolan was a rare breed. He was a workhorse while also being technically adept with a rocket of a right foot and a near perfect tackle. He could make accurate long passes, shoot from distance, hold the ball, control the tempo; and would even slot into the holes, playing as a CAM when required. Truly a perfect midfielder. He should have played for a top club in his prime years but sadly his indiscipline and bad boy image prevented us from witnessing a probable world beater at an elite club.

[@siddhantbatra223]

Nainggolan Gang😍. He truly was special.

[@skinnyeyez6813]

i remember how frustrated i got when they didn't choose him for the belgian national team, mind you i don't support belgium neither the clubs he played for. but i loved to watch him play, he's a one of a kind player and i don't think we'll see a similar player any time soon

[@AJftwlol]

I feel you. I was supporting Belgium for the 2018 WC but hearing that he wasn't called up was really shocking. That Belgium team was considered their golden generation but for me it's incomplete without Nainggolan.

[@alexandrenicolaslonz3007]

"One of football's last Alpha males..." 😂 Damn, you nailed it

[@ludovicopurgatori9459]

Have been a Giallorosso since birth. Man do I miss him. Player I miss the most alongside Totti and De Rossi. Thank you for doing a video on him. Fully deserved. A true Ninja fighter!

[@worldwidefootballdebate6287]

This guy is totally underrated u can even watch how he tackles from behind and actually get the ball from player without fouling them brilliant.

[@glesgagreg2255]

Even though Juve were always winning the league at the time. I always thought Naingollan was a better version of Vidal, he was so good

[@benghiskahn3673]

I always thought Juve missed a trick by not snapping up Radja. He would have been a perfect partner for Vidal/Marchisio. Never really understood why Radja never made it to a top team given just how much of a demon he was in CM.

[@glesgagreg2255]

@@benghiskahn3673 yeah Marchisio was so good. Always thought Juve were at their best when he played. Shame Radja and Vidal only played together when they were washed at Inter

[@tms825]

Nainggolan will forever be one of my favourite footballers

[@encorefootball]

People praise Dembele, de Bruyne & Hazard, but Radja was a step above

[@JorisVDC]

I wouldn't agree better than De Bruyne, as he has the same type of crazy grinta. I would have put De Bruyne defensive and Radja as offensive midfielder. Why? De Bruyne has the best long pass and Radja has the best tackle to regain the ball high up field where it immediately can result in chances.

[@johnpurdue9365]

You should’ve mentioned that radja also returned to Cagliari to support his wife who was battling cancer in Sardinia

[@kavehf9183]

Radja has always been one of my favorite players. Not just because of his quality, but because of his character. He's always had an anarchist anti establishment attitude towards everything. The way he was really inspired me. He also was a very very great box to box midfielder with devastating long shots and killer tackles. He really was a "Lonely Warrior" This documentary made me love him even more

[@wutangisforever2798]

Are you on your path to being a pro footballer or musician? If not you better straighten up. His act only worked because he was an elite footballer.

[@ibrahimel-rafie5239]

He was brilliant… not sure if he’s still playing but he was such an underrated player, tough tackling but still technically solid as well.. Radja was a personal favourite of mine.

[@Ivander85]

Just googled and he's playing in Indonesia now

[@InnerDog]

Best nr 6 Belgium ever had. The endurance of a beast, even with the chainsmoking. And his tackles were a work of art!!

[@wenderis]

Love how you paced and narrate the video with excellent footages. Radja Nainggolan was a boy uncertain about his identity until he developed a beautifully brutal relationship with the ball. So possesive yet he unleashed the ball like a flying beast. So happy now he's retracing the route of his complex identity while slowly make peace with the ball.

[@cregory93]

One of my favourite midfielders. He was also a cheat code on fifa, pure class.

[@Reaper_ginger]

I wouldn’t call myself a Roma supporter, but the first ever football kit I owned was a Totti Roma kit that I got as a gift so I have soft spot for them. Players like Nainggolan and Dzeko are some of my personal faves

[@ValensRenvhaggel]

There was a time, just a few months, when this beast of a player was the best midfielder in the world...

[@miguelporras8366]

My personal team of misfits or underrated players: Diego Lopez Arbeloa/Cahill/Darmian Willian/Nainggolan/Jorginho/Brozovic/Di Maria (Milner) Cassano/Le Tissier

[@tone1241]

I would’ve slapped balotteli next to cassano 🔥🔥

[@CarlMuircroft]

What no Ballotelli?

[@chris-lh6ol]

dont forget ivanovic

[@miguelporras8366]

@@chris-lh6ol damn right. He was a monster. But he was never mistreated as Arbeloa was

[@horridkhan2782]

Bro jorginho is not underrated but surely overrated. That guy won uefa best player idk why

[@Coensel]

If Martinez would have selected Radja for the national team in 2018 instead of the antifootballer called Witsel, Belgium could have won the world cup.

[@irsyadfauzi9325]

DANG. i know him chainsmoking, i know him a bad boy, i like his style. but never known he was this good as a footballer. TQ for the documentary on him.

[@mico1422]

Radja will always be in the heart of any AS Roma Fan... He is on Top with Totti, DDR, Cafu, Aldair, Conti, Candela, Batistuta, Tomassi and no many others.

[@AyeGameBae]

The way that man haunted me in FUT in the 2010s. He was in everyone's squad.

[@L47M]

My favourite player to use in FIFA 16 !!

[@malokmading1646]

Imagine a squad of Buffon, Claudio Gentile, Ramos, Pepe, Chiellini, Gattuso, Radja, Vidal, Eric Cantona, D. Costa, Ibrahimovic Those of Martin Taylor, Roy Keane, Mascherano, De Jong, Suarez, Balotelli or Materrazi can just sit on the bench. Coach: Conte, Marcelino, Mourinho or D. Simeon

[@crisch7062]

As a Roma fan, after Totti and De Rossi, I remember and love Radja the most. He was everything a football fan's heart wants: Passion, fearlessness, loyalty

[@HSVPatzz]

Nainggolan was my all time favourite player below totti and ddr, I was so devastated, Roma sold him to Inter, no other player has ever matched his skill and mindset.

[@SvenWilliams5150]

Glad to see him get some recognition, i watched him week in and out at Roma and for Belgium truly an icon, def one of the most overlooked midfielders imo

[@underdestruction6192]

As a Belgian, I never understood why we let go of him so many times. He was undisciplined and hot tempered, but damn was he efficient when you got him on a leash. He saved our asses a more than a few times to struck a sniper goal against team which would wall themselves and no one had the balls to try a long range attempt. In my eyes, he was special card to have in hand. and when he made a mistake because of his rabidness, I think, he always erased it later in the game by scoring.

[@JorisVDC]

Perfect last sentence Brother. I'm a Belgian and I know that Belgium would have one that world cup, if Radja was playing vs France. It's unthinkable that a player who is performing that good in Serie A is left at home. It only speaks about the coach, if he can"t handle some player antics. He did support the under performance of Lukaku and Hazard for many games, why not look beyond what happens off the pitch in favor of what happens on the pitch? Football is a game that is not only one by talent, but also grit and dirty tricks. Football is just another stylized version of war. PS: Yes I'm still salty that Radja never got a proper chance in the Belgian national team.

[@suicideisproofoflife51119]

Rajda was , is & will be one of the best midfielders for me he was a rebel & an underdog 🤘🏻

[@JGL98]

17-18 season was a great season for the sport, that Nike ball will be remembered forever

[@actiblizzard]

one of the goats of fifa fames !

[@JoshB_17]

Thanks for this he's my fave player of all time im hoping to meet him one day in Indonesia

[@M-POWER777]

So proud of what he achieved, I remember when he and his sister used to come knock on our door to play street soccer. Good old youth days. We had many brilliant talents whom never made it to the top or even in the game! Thx for the upload, inspiring ❤

[@JustKoj]

I subbed because this is so interesting these documentaries are better than my ones at school and i actually learn something im looking forward to watching ur next vid

[@LYRIQAL_]

I wish he would have made it to Chelsea even for one season.

[@bojack3827]

Brilliant video. Great story, great player (massively underrated)

[@stephenkpoobari596]

Tackles, physicality, long range shots, his hairstyle... I just loved Radja ❤

[@evanfiore2160]

Belgium should've won a trophy with him and Dembele in the midfield, two beasts

[@TheGreenada]

Radja my man!!! He was my favorite player back then..I cudnt have a squad in FM or fifa without radja..he just fit my playing style perfectly...

[@nerozonez9423]

I loved this guy he was my boy.. he always scored dirty goals.

[@legaesebakwane1849]

No wonder Belgium always look like they were short of nitro engine parts in the midfield in Russia World Cup. They left the Naingollan behind and they were found wanting without the ruthless jaws of a pit-bull. These managers and their egos Great video

[@olalekanajayi4012]

Radja is rare of his kind

[@Normallyneil]

He was a machine!!!

[@miguelporras8366]

He was the best all around 8 of the 2010's. Not a fault in his game: Mentality monster, excellent tackling, excellent passing, excellent box to box game, excellent assistman, excellent shooting. Way brtter than Vidal for exampñe

[@lexkanyima2195]

But he is more out of his actual possesion

[@laserworkstv]

Hardwork beats talent if talent doesnt work hard

[@TheJnr12]

He is from Batak Tribe, the tribe is famous with hard worker and fighter mentality acros indonesia, even The First UFC Fighter from indonesia (Jeka Saragih) is from Batak Tribe, same as Nainggolan

[@dariolivaja978]

In his prime, he was one of the best MC/DMC players in the world, top 5 for sure..

[@user-ny1sc1ys4o]

I don’t know if you mean first ever Semi-final in this UCL format but if we are talking all time Roma have reached this stage before.The moment I’m talking about is at 12:28

[@kalysto]

Incredibly underrated midfielder, was always a midfield mainstay in my FIFA teams of the last decade

[@MayaBishopStan]

Lord knows I loved him as a player. It's hard to see players play with such passion and devotion. His lack of inclusion into the Belgium 2018 World Cup squad was such a disgrace and disrespect on his person and talent. Naingollan was not made for common goals but for Worldies...

[@smoothforreal4242]

a player that knows how good he is knows he can make a team better. that’s why he went to roma. this dude was a menace, just leaving bodies on the ground in his wake 💪🏼

[@badcoochie]

I always thought he was the Dennis Rodman of football

[@DidYaServe]

He was brilliant. Martínez was a fool not to include him. You always have to try with your most talented players even if they do have tough personalities especially in international football where there is no transfer market.

[@legniak1]

Massively underrated. Loved this guy. Too bad he’s not starting out now.Definitely has the intelligence and skills to play in todays game but I think his tackling would be too much for this pampered millionaire generation 😂 he would destroy everyone. The game lacks everything he embodied on and off the pitch

[@overthoughtandunderstated]

Belgium deserve their continued bad luck for how they treated il Ninja, one of the greatest midfielders in their history. I never saw a lack of effort from him on the pitch. My favorite and most underrated player of the mid 2010s!

[@ebckers]

Just 2 knobheads as coaches; believe me all Belgian football fans wanted him in the team

[@kirilraychev732]

Daje Ninja ❤💛 You'll always be one of the legends of Roma.

[@cindy68780]

imagine him playing for Boca they would love him

[@harsasingha5355]

Hamsik and nainngolan were ballers

[@sciro_7605]

Great documentary, only note is he didn't smoke the e-cigarette mid-game, it was before the game and before any supporters were present. Sadly for him a camera caught it and they decided to make a huge deal out of it.

[@ErmirMusic]

Amazing talent!

[@sf1of1]

This man was underrated.

[@snowman6995]

Earned a sub great video

[@laro_yas]

Truly he is one the best midfielders I have ever witnessed playing

[@objvisualstr5871]

He was a hell of a midfielder.... I love him😅

[@vecta001]

The only underrated player with 90 rating on his FIFA/PES rating during his prime 90 PAC 90 SHO 90 DEF

[@bayokoebi9351]

I was surprised when they did not select him in Belgium squad in the world cup 2010

[@fernandoenriquez432]

Maybe if Belgium coach place him in the national team maybe Belgium have a world cup title by now

[@donaldvanvliet9039]

Did he win a title with roma?

[@fernandoenriquez432]

No at that time juve won every title except for copa Italia the copa italia was always another random like inter napoli Roma or even lazio but the league from 2012-2017 was all juve roma went to champions league went far but didnt win one of Cristiano's title

[@armandoighnathius6478]

@@donaldvanvliet9039he is the puzle that belgium need. At least belgium may finish 3rd in wc. In roma, that puzle is never complete.

[@RespecTheLevYT]

With Radja in midfield Belgium coul have well won the 2018 World Cup. Disgraceful from Martinez to leave him out.

[@miguelporras8366]

He only needed to be a Premier League player or to have the proper agent. He was the missing piece of their midfield. Witsel/Nainggolan/De Bruyne could have been a powehouse

[@lexkanyima2195]

​@@miguelporras8366hell no, Radja is not a true champion

[@miguelporras8366]

@@lexkanyima2195 why not? One of the most complete players of the last 20 years. Tell me one flaw in his game and then call me again. As it is clearly stated in the video, in one of his Roma season he was the best at chances created in both Serie A and Champions League. If dominating that statistic doesnt make you a true champion... then what does?

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@miguelporras8366 he was out of possesion and losing the ball at crucial moments. I watch his games and he failed to deliver with the national team

[@miguelporras8366]

@@lexkanyima2195 I doubt that very much. As far ás I remember, at Euro 2016 he was one of the best in that underwhelming team. Wilmots on the other hand was a shitty coach. And Martinez was way overrated

[@bentinbama1]

This dude was a beast in fifa 15 through like 18

[@tobiwalter8659]

Naingollan and marchisio. Goated longshot midfield on fifa 15

[@mangosmoothieeHD]

Anyone remember this guy on fifa lil bro literally Ruud Gullit lvl stats 80+ in every stat shit was wildd

[@LeWacoKid]

His tots in 17 was one of the first to have 90 in all, this was before the stat inflation now.

[@WhyamImstillhere]

It’s such a tragically constant story with players like him. Underprivileged(usually of African decent because even today it’s the easiest place to get away with exploiting) and incredibly talented manage to get noticed by someone that actually seems to care about not only the talent but the person. After a few years in the the right environment it’s obvious that they’re meant for more so they make the next step but they have to leave the scout that cared behind. Player has a few amazing break out seasons and starts to make a name but while doing that experiences an obscene and disgusting level of racism and hatred no matter where in Europe they play. They push through for a few more seasons and unfortunately more often than not it gets to them and they begin to fall apart. It’s almost always blamed on the player and they are described by the media as immature and reckless, but the news never mentions the combinations of alienation, slurs, and ridicule endured beyond that of any native born European. I say this as a failed footballer. I grew up in the us with an ex serieA/B father and a football fanatic mother. I tried my hardest for 2 years and played in serie c for 1 game before I realized i wasn’t good enough. But at every level I saw so much discrimination to non European(specifically African) players.

[@peterkaplan6361]

Beast in real life - beast in FIFA, the kind of player that made me enjoy watching football

[@tomdreler6528]

always bought hin in video games!

[@beukenphom3680]

His Ninja tackle was just wow !!

[@5on-of-Fire]

What a player 🔥

[@raimondogondos4582]

Another great video 💯

[@maestromalave1400]

Class player bro 🔥

[@wojtek1765]

Always loved him as footballer and on fifa

[@L47M]

Imagine a team with Him, Vidic, Diego Costa, Hulk, Haaland, Zidane, Seedorf, Zlatan, Roy Keane, Adama Traore & Gattuso. God Damn Avengers if u ask me !!

[@jeroen7716]

3 strikers and 1 defender? that should work in boogiewonderland for sure...

[@LeWacoKid]

Ultimate team legend.

[@nathangraber8447]

One of the greats

[@St_spaniard]

This guy was too underrated man

[@vadergrd]

he s a legend!

[@Jrights1]

The streets will never forget that 2014 to 2016 Roma squad and especially Rejda. Even though I found Arsenal as the main team to support, Roma has always been an extremely close second in my heart.

[@victorokolie9145]

Radja !!!!💛❤💥

[@pitergriffin01]

he's still fondly remembered in rome, especially by fans and club owners lol

[@johnzuh]

Legend