Cagliari president Tommaso Giulini has revealed that it is not possible for them to buy Radja Nainggolan on a permanent basis from Inter.

Cagliari have far from hidden their desire to bring Nainggolan back to the club after a successful loan spell last season and media speculation regarding Nainggolan’s immediate footballing future is constant at the moment.

Nainggolan, who joined Inter back in 2018 from Roma, has made one appearance this season for Inter but was not part of the Nerazzurri squad for their 5-2 win over Benevento due to suffering from pharyngitis.

“I have respect for the members of others clubs, so the less we talk about it the better. Inter at the moment are not willing to reason for Nainggolan as they did for Godin. The Nerazzurri have been clear about Nainggolan,” Giulini explained to the gathered media at the official presentation of new recruit Diego Godin on Wednesday evening.

“We have been asked to buy him but for us it is out of the question and they know it. An alternative that has been proposed to us in the last few hours is the sale of some young people who would cancel out the amount.

“We are thinking about it, but we have not yet understood if there really is the possibility of doing this and who the players are. In reality they have not communicated them to us.

“If there are opportunities, whether they are called Nainggolan or whatever, we will do it.”

Giulini, who has been the president of the Sardinia based Rossoblu club since 2014, also shared his excitement at being able to bring Godin to the club and revealed that former Cagliari and current Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella helped to convince Godin to move.

“It is a great pleasure to welcome Diego to the club. I am excited, it is a strong sign of growth and of our desire to do well. It all started towards the end of last season thanks to a phone call made by Carli.

“I had a hand from Barella who spoke to Godin about the city and the team. It was not easy to take away an important player from Inter.

“From day one Diego confirmed to me that if he left Inter his first choice would be Cagliari. We were already looking for a central defender since January after failing to sign Kjaer. We also contacted Fazio, but when there was the possibility of signing Godin, I didn’t think twice.”