Manchester City are reportedly ‘keeping a close eye’ on Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella.
90min reported yesterday that Pep Guardiola is looking at the Italy international ahead of the summer window.
The focus of the article is that Paris Saint-Germain have made an enquiry over Barella.
But it is also mentioned that City are keeping an eye on him, as are Chelsea.
Barella, 26, has made 40 appearances for Inter this season, and scored seven goals and made eight assists.
That takes his total to 18 goals and 42 assists in 175 games for Inter since joining from Cagliari in 2019 initialy on loaan.
Barella has been an outstanding signing for Inter.
He’s played a huge role in getting the club competing for silverware again. During his time at the club, he has won one league title, one Coppa Italia, two Supercoppa Italianas.
On a personal note, he was also named on the Ballon d’Or list of nominees in 2021.
Despite still only being 26, Barella has been named in the Serie A Team of the Year four times – three times as an Inter player and once for Cagliari.
90min say Inter have no desire to sell Barella. But it is mentioned that the Italian giants need to raise funds through player sales this summer.
City face losing Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva this summer.
Gundogan still hasn’t signed a new deal and has been strongly linked with Barcelona.
The Spanish giants have also long been linked with Silva.
Nico Barella is quality and would fit right in at Man City
If Gundogan does depart, then Barella would be an amazing replacement.
He is a central midfielder who is all-action just like the German.
Former City manager Roberto Mancini actually branded Barella ‘a complete player’ back in January 2021 when he was managing the national team and working with the midfielder (via Sempre Inter).
Both Gundogan and Silva are very technical players.
Barella is brilliant on the ball and would potentially be a really good fit in this team.
He would be expensive, given his contract doesn’t run out until 2026 at Inter. But Barella is world-class, and only just about to come into his peak years.
