Radja Nainggolan is unlikely to stay for a second year at Cagliari after his season-long loan from Inter expires, according to the Rossoblu’s sporting director Marcello Carli.

The midfielder left last summer after he was deemed surplus to requirements by Antonio Conte, rejoining his former club after the Nerazzurri’s preseason tour in Asia.

Nainggolan has contributed five goals and four assists in Sardinia this season, with Rolando Maran’s side sixth in the Serie A table after 17 rounds.

However, Carli today told Sky Sport: “We’d be stringing our fans along if we said it would be easy to keep hold of Radja this summer.

“Perhaps it’s not impossible but our president Tommaso Giulini was serious when he said it would be very difficult. We’ll have to see in June.”

On Nahitan Nandez, linked with a move to Inter in the summer, Carli added: “He’s doing well but he was very tired before the winter break after playing so much without any rest.

“I’m sure he’ll have a great second half of the season.”