In an interview with Sporza, Antwerp owner Paul Gheysens revealed he regrets bringing in former Inter Milan midfielder Radja Nainggolan. Last month, Nainggolan was suspended from the first team of Antwerp, following a driving incident and the player seen smoking an e-cigarette in the dugout before the game with Standard Liege.
Gheysens said to Sporza “He has so much talent, but he doesn’t live like a sportsman. That’s a shame“. When comparing the signing of Nainggolan to that of Toby Alderweireld, Gheysens did not hold back. “We’ve been hoping for a year and a half that he would make a difference. Toby Alderweireld wants to pay back his investment on the field. At Nainggolan, that “payback” is not there“.
Gheysens has not been shy in getting his wallet out to fund transfers for the Great Old. He has brought in the likes of Michel Balikwisha, Vincent Janssen, the aforementioned Alderweireld and former Hertha Berlin midfielder Jurgen Ekkelenkamp. The clubs aims are clear, to compete for the Pro League title alongside the likes of Club Brugge and Genk.
Despite an unbeaten start to the season, Antwerp are struggling for form and struggling to find the back of the net. Many are starting to compare the start of this season to that of the season Mark van Bommel had during his time at PSV Eindhoven, who tailed off after a promising start.
