GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Whilst many names have been linked with Roma over the last few days to become the team's new right winger, the solution for this position may well be hiding right in plain sight. There is reason to believe that Roma's right winger next season is already at the club.
In Eusebio Di Francesco's first press conference as Roma head coach, he may have dropped a little hint about a player he intends to use in that position, that many may not have noticed. "Nainggolan can easily score 18 goals a season playing as an attacking midfielder and he's perfectly capable of starting in a slightly wider position." Radja Nainggolan has just completed the season of his life with Roma, in which he added significant goal output to his energy and dynamism. He has played in a 4-3-3 before, as a midfielder under Rudi Garcia, but may be utilised in the front three next season. It was a slight change in position that helped him achieve his commendable goal tally last season, as he ventured higher up the pitch to become an attacking midfielder in Spalletti's 4-2-3-1 system, a role similar to one he had played in earlier in his career at Cagliari. He showed through this system that he is a player who likes to get forward, and likes to score goals in the process. His work rate also benefited the team higher up the pitch. So, he may be in line to stay in an advanced role next season; this time, as a wide forward. Although he is far from a natural winger, he may just have the qualities to fit Di Francesco's requirements for that position. Often, EDF's wingers are encouraged to pick up pockets of space left in the middle of the park, drifting inside to create combination play in the attacking third. They do not go to the byline and look to make a cross, but instead come inside and help link the team's attack. It is in similar pockets of space that Radja found joy last season, roaming around the final third to pick up the ball and continue the team's attack with either a dangerous shot or an important pass. There is no reason why he couldn't do the same next season, albeit from a different starting position. Although Di Francesco's wide men are usually inverted, preferring to use the opposite foot to the side on which they play, Radja Nainggolan is an intelligent enough footballer to adapt to whichever side of the pitch his coach may have in mind for him. He will have to engage with the team's build up play in order to ensure he receives the ball comfortably, thinking about his body position when acquiring possession, and about what the easiest route towards goal for him is. As he plays small passes with his fellow forwards, he will have to make intelligent runs off the ball, which is an area of his game that is already very good. As this occurs, he may well find himself in a similar position to the one he played in last season, facing goal in the vicinity of the centre of the attacking third. From there, he will be able to make the same contributions as he did in 2016/17. Spots in Roma's midfield three next season are likely to be taken by Daniele De Rossi, Kevin Strootman and the imminently returning Lorenzo Pellegrini, meaning last year's player of the season Nainggolan may find more minutes in this inside forward position. Of course, the Belgian international will be one of the first names on Di Francesco's team sheet, but for this to be achieved, he may have to be deployed in a new area of the pitch. Given the way he effortlessly became an attacking midfielder in the season just gone, there is enough evidence to suggest that Nainggolan will be able to adapt to this new role; and, as he did in 2016/17, make his new position his own.
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samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
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October 2019
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