Nicolo Barella’s stats at Inter this season are comparable to those of Europe’s best midfielders, as highlighted by a report in the Italian media today.
Tuesday’s print edition of Gazzetta dello Sport noted that Barella boasts superior stats in several departments this season to Barcelona and Netherlands star Frenkie de Jong.
The Italy international has completed more tackles than De Jong, with 19 compared to 15, provided more assists (5 to 2), created more goal-scoring chances (25 to 22) and taken more shots on goal (6 to 3).
He has also scored the same number of goals as the Barcelona midfielder, two, and recovered the ball almost as many times (98 to 106).
Barella is also the only midfielder born after January 1 1997 to have already scored 10 goals in Serie A, following Sunday’s strike against Juventus in the Derby d’Italia.
Moreover, the 23-year-old is one of only five players in the same age bracket to have provided at least five assists in Europe’s top five leagues this season, putting him in the company of Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho and Brest defender Romain Perraud.