Former Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte believes the energy levels of Nicolo Barella means the reported Spurs and Liverpool target stands out from fellow Euro 2020 winners Jorginho and Marco Verratti, speaking to The Telegraph.
Talk about a year to remember.
Just weeks after playing a major role for an Inter side that won its first Serie A title in more than a decade, Barella was adding a winner’s medal at Euro 2020 to his personal trophy haul.
The former Cagliari youngster may not get the credit afforded to Azzurri teammates Jorginho and Verratti but, according to a man who knows the 24-year-old well, an outstanding Italy side wouldn’t be quite so impressive without the subtle brilliance of Barella.
Will Nicolo Barella move to Liverpool or Spurs after winning Euro 2020?
“If we compare him to Verratti or Jorginho, the two of them are good at playing with the ball between their feet – but they don’t have the same energy as Barella,” Conte said of a man who has been compared to Paul Scholes and N’Golo Kante – an indication of how versatile and well-rounded a player the Inter star really is.
“I think Italy’s midfield with the three of them is complete.”
In early June, Gazzetta dello Sport reported Premier League trio Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur had all held talks with Barella, who’s understood to be valued in the region of £63 million by Inter.
Such a price tag means a move to England feels unlikely before the end of August, however, and there’s an argument to be made that Inter would demand even more on the back of his stellar displays on the biggest of stages.
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