AS Roma newly appointed sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has confirmed that Cagliari’s Italian international midfielder Nicolo Barella will join Inter and not the Giallorossi, when speaking to the gathered press during a press conference at the club’s training ground.

Petrachi revealed that Roma had an agreement with Cagliari and Barella who had accepted a move to the Italian capital but after Monchi resigned, Inter saw an opening and seized it.

“A lot of inaccurate statements have been made regarding Barella. The player was very happy to come to Roma, after an agreement was found between the two clubs. After Monchi left, Roma lost ground as time was lost and Inter got involved, and they made their proposal to Cagliari and the player.”

“Conte called the player, he is very good at motivating signings to join. It is normal that the lad has the ambition to play in the Champions League and so he prefers Inter to Roma.”

“I have never looked for Barella, it is Cagliari that came looking for Roma, saying that Inter were dragging their feet and that Roma had the possibility to sign him. Cagliari wanted to sell him to Roma but the player has chosen Inter.”

“If he calls us and says that he has changed his mind, then we will talk, but for me the matter is closed. Because forcing a player to a club in this manner is a mistake. You are not signing players with God’s money, especially if a player does not have the motivation to come to Roma, wanting to go to Inter.”