Radja Nainggolan's football career and personal life have taken a sad turn, with the midfielder reportedly facing years in jail.

Nainggolan, 38, started his career as a footballer with Italian club Piacenza before going on to play for teams such as Cagliari, Roma and Inter Milan.

Following another spell at Cagliari, Nainggolan returned to his home nation of Belgium to play for Antwerp. He then returned to Italy with SPAL before playing for Bhayangkara, Lokeren and most recently, Patro Eisden – where he's played nine times for the Belgian second-tier club in 2026/27 so far.

During his peak years, Nainggolan was one of the best players in his position, having been named in the Serie A Team of the Year on four occasions. He was also voted Roma’s Player of the Season in 2017. However, in recent years, Nainggolan’s off-the-pitch issues have impacted the latter stages of his footballing career.

Back in January 2025, Nainggolan was arrested as part of an investigation into smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe via his home city of Antwerp. At the time, it was reported that as many as 30 houses around Antwerp and Brussels were raided. During the police investigation, Nainggolan's car – a Smart Brabus – was towed.

Radja Nainggolan Reportedly Faces Two-Year Jail Term

Now, according to GOAL, Nainggolan could be facing a two-year jail term and a €105,000 fine after ‘Brussels authorities accused him of financial offences’.

The report stated: “The Brussels public prosecutor's office has formally demanded a two-year custodial sentence alongside a €105,000 fine for the former Cagliari star over alleged money laundering.”

Nainggolan has always maintained his innocence, and it is believed that prosecutors have ‘cleared him of direct involvement in narcotics or a criminal organisation’.

However, despite the dropping of gang and trafficking allegations, it has been alleged that the 38-year-old handled ‘illicit funds exceeding €100,000’. The money was allegedly handed to him by his friend Nasr-Eddine Sekkaki, brother of notorious criminal Ashraf Sekkaki.

As per the report by GOAL, the prosecutor said: “Nainggolan received €105,000 in cash from Sekkaki, who asked for the money to be transferred to his mother's account.”

It has been noted that Nainggolan responded to the above claim by stating he borrowed the money from Sekkaki in order to maintain his personal lifestyle due to his bank accounts being frozen after a divorce.

The former Roma man’s legal representative, Mounir Souidi, revealed that his defence team will push for a ‘complete acquittal’, stating: “We have already demonstrated that there was no truth to the previous charges; only money laundering remains, but even that is unfounded.”

They are set to present their case next month, with a court date set for November 13, taking place in Brussels.