Nainggolan predicts Inter-Roma outcome and selects favourite player: ‘Crazy level’ | OneFootball

Ex-Roma and Inter midfielder Radja Nainggolan has had his say ahead of the meeting of his two former clubs in Serie A on Sunday afternoon, suggesting that the Nerazzurri have a noticeably better squad than their upcoming opponents.

Inter-Roma is one of seven Serie A matches taking place on Sunday as a result of various postponements over the course of the last week.

You can follow the action from all of them on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Nainggolan, speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, gave his analysis ahead of kick-off, explaining why he finds Inter the superior side despite Roma having picked up more points than any other side in the division since the new year.

The former Belgium international also revealed who his favourite player from the two current squads is, and gave his recommendation for the next Giallorossi head coach.

Nainggolan predicts Inter-Roma

Radja Nainggolan of AS Roma gestures during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on February 7, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images )

Even though Inter are coming off the back of two consecutive, disappointing defeats (a 1-0 loss to Bologna in Serie A and a 3-0 loss in the Coppa Italia semi-final to Milan), Nainggolan believes that Inzaghi and his team will be motivated to get back to winning ways on Sunday.

“The Nerazzurri have players with the right personality to overcome the last two defeats. I would like Roma to continue on their positive streak, but the level between the squads is different, and there will be a desire to react in San Siro,” Nainggolan told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Nainggolan still believes that Inter will go on to win the Serie A title at the end of the 2024-25 campaign as well: “I see Inter as favourites because they have a better structured squad. Of course, Napoli have a great coach who knows how to transform players: You can see it with McTominay or Gilmour, who I didn’t know much about.

“But will Conte’s team be consistent for the next games? I don’t know. Inter give more reliability. And the schedule doesn’t matter because there are no easy games in Italy, look at Napoli in Monza.”

Nainggolan also told the Pink Paper that he is most looking forward to watching Nicolo Barella when the Nerazzurri host Roma on Sunday.

Inter Milan’s Italian midfielder #23 Nicolo Barella (L) vies with Manchester City’s Belgian midfielder #17 Kevin De Bruyne (R) during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, north-west England, on September 18, 2024 (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

When asked if he has a favourite from the current crop of Inter and Roma players, Nainggolan responded: “Barella, because I see a bit of myself in him. I watched him grow up, and now he’s at a crazy level.

“He works a lot for others, he brings out the qualities in those around him. He works his a**e off for this team, even if he doesn’t score much.”