Reported Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur target Nicolo Barella is superior to the likes of Marco Verratti and Frenkie de Jong, German legend Lothar Matthaus has said in quotes reported by Goal.
As the Serie A title looms into view for Inter Milan, Barella is potentially weeks away from scribing his name into Nerazzurri folklore.
The former Cagliari enforcer is the growling V8 engine at the heart of Antonio Conte’s Scudetto-chasing team, producing a career-best ten assists in 2020/21.
Fabio Capello, the former Real Madrid, England and Milan boss, believes he is now one of Europe’s top three central midfielders.
And, according to 1990 Ballon D’Or winner Matthaus, even PSG playmaker Verratti and Barcelona stalwart De Jong can’t hold a candle to Barella on current form.
“In the Italian team, (Verratti) has never really delivered large-scale performances in a major competition, while a player like Nicolo Barella has shown the extent of his talent with high-level performances over time,” the former Bayern Munich hero explains.
“I place Verratti roughly at the same rank as Frenkie De Jong, Marcel Sabitzer and Denis Zakaria, but a notch below Ilkay Gundogan, Nicolo Barella, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich.
“At the moment, Gundogan’s level of play at Manchester City is exceptional, like Kimmich at Bayern Munich and Nicolo Barella at Inter.”
According to Calciomercato, Tottenham are interested while Barella also has admirers at Anfield.
Inter Live adds Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are willing to pay £55 million for a pyrotechnic pocket rocket who possesses exactly the kind of blockbusting tenacity his fading Reds side are crying out for.
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