Former Belgian midfielder Gianni Naïnggolan finds himself once again in a delicate legal situation. The Brussels prosecutor's office has submitted a request for a two-year prison sentence for money laundering, after the former Cagliari, Roma and Inter player was arrested in early 2025 in connection with an alleged international drug trafficking ring.
According to the authorities, Naïnggolan facilitated the laundering of 105,500 euros for a criminal organisation. The money, according to prosecutors, was received by the player from Nasr-Eddine Sekkaki, brother of the notorious criminal Ashraf Sekkaki. The former athlete changed his story during the investigation: initially he claimed to have lent the funds to Sekkaki "out of friendship", but later admitted to having received the amount because his accounts had been blocked due to the divorce.
The judicial proceedings are part of a broader context of investigations into drug trafficking in Belgium, where authorities have stepped up operations against transnational networks. Naïnggolan, who has had a notable career in Serie A and European clubs, has been at the center of this story since his arrest, which has attracted great attention in both the media and the football community.
Currently, the player is under preventive arrest while the prosecutor's office prepares the indictment dossier. If the request for a two-year prison sentence were to be accepted, Naïnggolan would risk a significant prison sentence, with consequences also for his sporting career and personal reputation. The Belgian authorities stressed that the procedure is still ongoing and that further evidence will be examined before a final decision.
For now, the situation remains pending. Naïnggolan's lawyers said they were preparing their defence, while the club whose team the player was last in the squad has not yet communicated an official position. It will be necessary to wait for the ruling of the Belgian court to find out whether the request for conviction will be accepted or rejected. The case, which involves a high-profile former athlete, will continue to be closely followed by both the authorities and European football fans.