If Simone Inzaghi felt that handing Roberto Gagliardini start during Inter Milan’s 1-0 victory over Hellas Verona recently would be enough to keep the Italy international happy and content for the time being, he was most certainly mistaken.
That was only Gagliardini’s second start of the current Serie A campaign. And, with his contract expiring this summer, the former Atalanta playmaker did not miss the opportunity, in his post-match interview, to send a message to the Nerazzuri boss.
Simply put; play me or lose me.
“I am no longer prepared to play so little,” Gagliardini told Sky Italia. “Because I still feel that I am in good shape and have a lot more to give. I want to play and to make my qualities known.
“We’ll see what happens in June (when my deal runs out). I will make my decisions.”
Nottingham Forest like Inter Milan’s Serie A champion Roberto Gagliardini
Gagliardini turns 29 in April. The 2021 Serie A champion should be at the peak of his powers. But, with Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Kristjan Asllani and Hakan Calhanoglu all ahead of him in Inzaghi’s pecking order, the £20 million signing from Atalanta is under no illusions that his chances of regular first-team football look slim at San Siro.
With all due respect to one of the most historic clubs in English football, swapping Inter Milan for Nottingham Forest feels, in many ways, like a step down. From the Champions League to a bottom-half club far from safe from the threat of relegation.
But the lure of the Premier League, and the promise of more consistent game-time, convinced Renan Lodi, Chris Wood, Remo Freuler and Taiwo Awoniyi to walk away from European football in favour of a potential survival fight at Nottingham Forest. Gagliardini finds himself in a similar position to that of Wood, perhaps. A respected but relatively seldom-seen squad player in a club flying high towards the top-end of the table.
From the San Siro to the City Ground
Gazzetta dello Sport believe that Steve Cooper’s side are now looking to make Gagliardini their latest in a long line of new signings; whether now or in the summer.
And the comments he made following that most rare of Inter starts a week-and-a-half ago may be all the encouragement Nottingham Forest need to believe Gagliardini can be tempted by a fresh start and a bigger role at the City Ground.
“I consider myself a professional. I’m 28, and I still have many years (left),” Gagliardini adds. “We’ll see in June. Certainly, in terms of playing time, it’s been a tough two years.”
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