Inter Milan’s Curva Nord ultras group are begging the Serie A giants not to let Nicolo Barella leave as Newcastle United look to bring the Italy international to the Premier League.
He might not score the goals of Lautaro Martinez. He might not be quite so outspoken as Alessandro Bastoni. But the sky-high popularity of Nicolo Barella is proof of just how integral he is to the Nerazzuri machine.
The industrious Italian scored nine times and set up ten more as Simone Inzaghi’s side won the Coppa Italia and came within a Rodri stunner of Champions League glory last season.
And despite Inter’s well-publicised financial issues – they are facing another summer of being forced to consider offers for their prized assets – Barella still will not be allowed to leave without a fight.
According to The Telegraph, Newcastle United are ‘pushing ahead’ with a £50 million move. Inter value Barella at closer to £85 million, however; claims backed up by Fabrizio Romano, adding that Newcastle’s initial offer is likely to be ‘nowhere near’ enough.
Newcastle United could miss out on Nicolo Barella
Cashing in on Barella – even if Newcastle do meet Inter’s hefty asking price – would certainly be an unpopular move.
The club’s Curva Nord supporters group made their feelings about the 26-year-old’s potential sale clear over the weekend.
“A born Inter fan,” they write, via Gazzetta dello Sport. “Present and future. Untouchable.”
The good news is that Inter appear to agree. According to SportMediaset, Newcastle’s prospective £50 million bid caused ‘uproar’ behind the scenes at San Siro, a man once dubbed ‘one of three best midfielders in European football’ by Fabio Capello valued at nearly twice as much.
“Barella is without a shadow of a doubt one of the three best midfielders in European football. Without a shadow of a doubt,” former England manager Capello said in 2021, when the 26-year-old was the driving force behind Antonio Conte’s Scudetto-winning Inter team.
“He has vision, stamina, quality and pace. He does everything right. Achraf Hakimi (right-back) has pace, but the difference is Hakimi gets there and boots it into the box. Barella crosses the ball precisely. That is a very big difference.
“Barella wins back the ball and then passes it to start moves.”
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