Money, Rolex and fans: Belgium star regrets not choosing to play for Indonesia

Reflecting on the appeal of the Indonesia national football team and the lucrative benefits offered to naturalized players, midfielder Radja Nainggolan admits he now regrets choosing to represent Belgium over Indonesia.

In an exclusive interview with the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad on Oct. 8, the 38-year-old opened up about his choice of national team. Nainggolan, whose father is Indonesian, noted that the fame and appeal in Southeast Asia could have boosted his public image and helped his future after retirement. The midfielder admitted he did not consider those factors when he originally made his decision to represent Belgium.

The former AS Roma and Inter Milan midfielder expressed that his perspective has shifted with age, especially when reflecting on how his Belgium international career ultimately ended under former head coach Roberto Martinez.

"I could’ve had 15 years playing for Indonesia," he said. "Money circulates everywhere. Players are even sponsored by Louis Vuitton, Hublot or Rolex.

Besides the financial incentives, Nainggolan also praised the nation's passionate football culture.

"Over there, there are 70,000 fans for a match against Vietnam or Iraq, so fanatical they are," he added.

At the club level, Nainggolan enjoyed a successful career in Italy, featuring prominently for Cagliari, AS Roma and Inter Milan. During the 2017/18 season, he notably helped Roma reach the Champions League semifinals, scoring two goals in the second leg against Liverpool. His performances earned him a high-profile move to Inter Milan in the summer of 2018 for a reported fee of €38 million (US$42.5 million).

On the international level, he made 30 appearances for Belgium and scored six goals. His most memorable contributions came during Euro 2016, where he scored against Sweden and Wales to help the team reach the quarterfinals. However, his international career came to an end in 2018 when he retired from the national team after failing to make Martinez's World Cup squad.

Nainggolan eventually returned to Indonesia, playing for Bhayangkara FC during a brief stint in the 2023/24 season. By that time, he was no longer ineligible to switch his international allegiance to Indonesia, having already represented Belgium in competitive games, according to FIFA regulations.

He currently plays for Patro Eisden in the Challenger Pro League, the second division of Belgian football.