Radja Nainggolan arrested in cocaine trafficking probe as Mohamed Salah's former teammate faces investigation

Former Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has been arrested as part of a cocaine trafficking probe in his homeland.

The 30 time Belgian cap, and former Champions League star who now plays for KSC Lokeren-Temse, was one of several suspects apprehended by Belgian police, after a series of raids were carried out across the country on January 27. In a statement the Brussels prosecutor's office said: "The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium."

Nainggolan is best remembered for a glittering five year stint with Roma in Serie A where he clocked up more than 200 appearances, and was a teammate of Liverpool legend Mo Salah - prior to his move to Merseyside. A switch to Inter Milan proved a disaster, and he saw out his career with Cagliari, Antwerp, SPAL and Bhayangkara in Indonesia. He only came out retirement a week ago to join Belgian second tier side Lokeren, scoring on his debut in a 1-1 draw with Lierse on January 24.

Born in Antwerp, the midfielder spent most of his career in Italy and was named in Serie A's Team of the Year four times. Between 2009 and 2018, he made 30 appearances for the Belgium national team - and scored twice at Euro 2016 against Sweden and Wales. A controversial figure, his time at Antwerp came to an end when he was caught vaping on the bench.

The Belgian club suspended the then 34-year-old midfielder "indefinitely" after he was filmed smoking on the bench in the build-up to his side's 3-0 loss to Standard Liege in 2022. In a statement released at the time: "We had a conversation with him about certain situations and we have decided to remove him from the team indefinitely for behaviour that