Reported Arsenal and Liverpool target Nicolo Barella is a “world class” talent with the Inter Milan midfielder possessing “extraordinary” ability, former Italy manager Marcello Lippi has told Gazetta dello Sport.
Inter have been hit harder than most by the financial crisis engulfing European football.
But while the Nerazzurri may be forced to cash in on a key player or two as they look to keep the wolf from the door, don’t expect to see Barella placed on the market.
He may be short in stature but the midfielder is a huge cog in Antonio Conte’s Scudetto-chasing machine, the driving force at the heart of the engine room.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter plan to offer Barella a new contract complete with substantial pay rise to ward off interest from Arsenal and Liverpool (FCInterNews).
The former Cagliari dynamo has also been identified as the ‘capitan futuro’, with Inter believing he’s the ideal candidate to take the armband from 36-year-old goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Barella’s performances have also seen him earn comparisons with Paul Scholes and Italy legend Marco Tardelli. But, according to Lippi, Barella deserves to be seen as his own man.
“Extraordinary. He is Italy’s Italian midfielder and therefore a top player in Europe as well,” Lippi, who guided the Azzuri to glory at the 2006 World Cup, said via Sempre Milan.
“He presses, dribbles, takes part in the game with and without the ball, shoots. He’s everywhere. He’s a driver for Conte and (Italy boss Roberto) Mancini.
“They say he’s a bit like Marco Tardelli, perhaps because he too was very strong, but to me he seems like a unique prototype of a world class midfielder.”
Calciomercato claims Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the £43 million-rated enforcer.
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