Inter legend Nicola Berti sees a lot of similarities between himself and the Nerazzurri’s new midfielder Nicolò Barella.
Berti won one Serie A title and two UEFA Cups with Inter during the 1980s and 1990s, making more than 200 appearances than becoming a cult hero in the process.
Barella recently completed a potential €50 million move from Cagliari and began training with Antonio Conte’s side last week.
Asked which modern player could be compared to his former self, Berti told Passionedelcalcio.it: “Barella. I’m very excited about him, I really like the player.”
Berti spent two seasons playing for Giovanni Trapattoni and believes Conte is comparable to him for his Juventus past.
“I can see similarities between them, they’re both proven winners,” Berti added.
“Conte has ‘cleaned himself’ since by coaching Italy and Chelsea and he’s already getting a good tune out of this team in preseason.
“He’s pushed the players hard in training and they’re really attacking open spaces during games, they’re a forward-thinking team.
“Inter needed a change and a break from the past. If they sign a couple of forwards they’re on the same level as Juventus. Finally we’ll have a more exciting league this year.”
Berti also advised his former club to revive their interest for a player they were following earlier this summer.
“I’d like Federico Chiesa as well as Barella,” he revealed.
“He’s going to leave Fiorentina and he should come to Inter, because with Conte in charge the team is tailor made for him.
“Federico is very similar to his father Enrico as a player, although he has a more powerful shot.”