Is there a midfielder more tailor-made for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal than Nicolo Barella?
While Granit Xhaka, Dani Ceballos, Joe Willock and Lucas Torreira all thrive in some areas of the game and flail in others, Inter Milan’s very own Action Man is perhaps the epitome of a player who does everything asked of him and more.
Antonio Conte has fallen madly in love with an Italy international who moved to the San Siro from Cagliari last summer in a deal that could eventually set the Nerazzuri back a cool £33 million.
No wonder Inter have issued a rather blunt response to Arsenal’s enquiry about Barella’s availability (FC Inter News).
“He’s growing. He put in a great performance today, whether that was with Vecino in the middle or when playing in front of the defence,” the famously demanding Conte told Tribal Football after Barella’s winner against Fiorentina fired Inter into the Coppa Italia semi-finals.
“Nicolo has strength, energy and quality when shooting from outside the box.”
At just 23, Barella has only just started to scratch the surface of his potential. And it seems that the respect between player and coach is a two-way street.
“For him, I would get myself killed. That applies to all his players and that makes the difference.”
Arsenal fans can only wish that a player with this sort of iron-clad, win-at-all-costs mentality was thundering into tackles and dictating the play at the heart of their midfield.
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