Former England boss Fabio Capello has claimed that rumoured Tottenham Hotspur target Nicolo Barella is one of the three best midfielders in European football at present.
Barella has developed considerably since arriving at Inter in 2019 and has not only been one of Inter’s best players but also among the best midfielders in the Serie A this season.
His consistent displays for Antonio Conte’s side have also seen him establish himself as a regular for the Italian national side ahead of the Euros in the summer.
CalcioMercato reported in January that Spurs had their eye on the midfielder, whose current deal at the San Siro runs until 2024. The report also suggested that Liverpool were ready to push Tottenham for his signature.
However, Fabrizio Romano revealed last week that it will be difficult for Spurs to complete a deal for the 24-year-old since Inter are determined to keep him at the club.
Capello certainly seems to have been left mightily impressed by what he has seen of Barella, insisting that the Nerrazuri star is one of the best in the world.
The experienced Italian manager told Sky Italia: “Barella is without a shadow of a doubt one of the three best midfielders in European football. Without a shadow of a doubt.
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“He has vision, stamina, quality and pace. He does everything right. Achraf Hakimi (the 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. The Inter team has been transformed with him.”
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Any hopes that we had of signing Barella now appear to be over given how well the 24-year-old has played this season. Inter will likely fight tooth and nail to hold on to him and it would take a substantial bid to price him away from the San Siro.
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