Liverpool and Arsenal are keeping a close eye on Nicolo Barella with Serie A giants Inter Milan desperate to tie the midfielder down to a new long-term contract, according to FCInterNews.
The former Cagliari enforcer may be renowned for his seemingly endless energy reserves and his willingness to ‘get myself killed’ for the cause (his words, not ours).
But, in Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid, he produced a moment of magic that the man on Los Blancos’ bench would have been proud off.
Channelling his inner-Zidane, Barella produced the sort of assist you only see once in a blue moon, executing a sublime, first-time backheel which bisected the Real defence in an instant and set up Lautaro Martinez for a one-on-one he finished in ruthless fashion.
Fortunately for Inter, the Italy international is a boyhood Nerazzuri fanatic.
And that will come in handy with contract talks underway amid interest from some of the Premier League’s biggest and best.
FCInterNews report that Liverpool and Manchester United are keen, as are an Arsenal side who were snubbed by the £33 million midfielder as recently as May.
The report adds that Inter could reward Barella for his fine performances with a new contract until 2025.
He currently earns £45,000-a-week but is expected to offered a substantial pay rise, taking him to somewhere in the region of £70,000-a-week.
“Now he’s one of the best midfielders in Italy,” Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini told Gazzetta dello Sport of a man who continues to go from strength to strength at the San Siro.
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