Nicolo Barella has shown so far this season exactly why all the big Italian clubs courted him over the summer and Corriere dello Sport have recalled this interest.

“Juventus tried. Inter tried and at one point it seemed all done for him to join. Roma have courted him for a year at least and Milan? Gattuso has confirmed everything. Napoli too showed an interest in January.”

Despite all this interest, he remained in Sardinia with Cagliari, largely in part to the Rossoblu president Tomasso Giulini demanding €50 million for him. This season he has played in every minute of every game across all competitions and has scored one goal.

The 21-year-old midfielder – who has interest from elsewhere in Europe – is sure to have a huge future ahead of him and could be set to be rewarded with an international debut for the Italian national team during next months matches according to the Rome based newspaper.