Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella has received mixed reviews for his performance with the Italian national team in a 1-1 draw against Bulgari during the World Cup qualification process.
The consensus among major newspapers in Italy is that the 24-year-old midfielder showed many of his good qualities in the match, but that he also was responsible for errors and sloppy, inaccurate play.
Barella has become virtually undroppable from Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri starting eleven, as he has been for Inter, with his combination of physical intensity and technique providing an important spark in midfield.
However, against Bulgaria he did not give his best display in an Italy shirt, and in the end could not help an Azzurri team who were not able to take three points from what proved to be a challenging game.
The Nerazzurri man will hope that going forward the team can put in better displays, and will know that he must do better individually as well.
Gazzetta dello Sport gave Barella a 6/10 score, writing “Taken off in the second half, perhaps because he was booked. Because he had fought for every ball, looking for the goal with runs and shots from outside the box. Agile, direct, the right ‘meanness’, one of the least worst on the team.”
Corriere dello Sport scored him at 5.5/10, writing “Another mixed display, in which the Inter player alternates between great tackles and sloppy play, and an over-enthusiastic attitude that saw him get booked. There is no lack of aggression and ferocity in him. He tried hard, but it wasn’t enough.”
Tuttosport awarded Barella a 6/10 and wrote, “A classy right foot combined with effort and intensity. More and more aware of himself and his qualities. Among the most effective in applying the high press asked for by Mancini.”
