Reported Liverpool and Arsenal target Nicolo Barella has been compared to Premier League legend Paul Scholes by former Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti, while speaking to Tuttosport, via Sempre Inter.
The latter-day Scholes might have been more of a deep-lying, string-pulling play-maker but, in his younger days at Old Trafford, this was a midfielder who could do pretty much everything – except tackle, of course.
Barella’s Man of the Match performance in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Serie A champions Juventus was certainly reminiscent of a Manchester United great in his pristine pomp.
The Italy international set up Arturo Vidal’s opener with a pinpoint cross before scoring the second himself, breaking into the penalty-box and finishing in ruthless fashion. It was the sort of goal Scholes made his trademark under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“In terms of how he plays, Barella reminds me of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, who was a really great player,” Moratti said of a man who, on current form, may be the most influential midfielder in Serie A.
“He’s really been a great signing for Inter.”
Barella has three years left on his current contract but, with Premier League clubs starting to circle, Inter are looking to reward the former Cagliari star with a new and improved deal.
Calciomercato believe that the Nerrazzuri view their £30 million-rated dynamo as ‘unsellable’, meaning Liverpool and Arsenal will hit a brick wall in their seemingly-doomed pursuit of the San Siro favourite (FC Inter News).
Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur are also interested, according to Calciomercato, in a man who possesses the energy of Moussa Sissoko, the discipline of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and the defence-splitting magic of Tanguy Ndombele.
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