Former Inter defender Daniele Adani believes that current Nerazzurri midfielder Nicolo Barella has all the tools needed by a modern central midfielder and is one of the best in his position in world football.
Speaking on Christian Vieri’s Twitch channel, as reported by FCInterNews, the 47-year-old gave his views on the current Nerazzurri team after their frenetic 2-2 draw against Atalanta.
Adani was impressed by the attacking intent displayed by both sides in La Dea’s visit to the San Siro, and he felt that the performance by Barella was one of the highlights of an entertaining match where Inter showed their quality.
He gave his analysis of the game and suggested that Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was not able to affect the game as positively as Simone Inzaghi did with his substitutions.
“When you count about twenty shots on goal each that is significant,” he said. “The amount of shots means even more than possession to show how offensive a team is. Lautaro scored a great goal, another one. Inter played better, then Atalanta overturned it by playing with a striker and two midfielders in front, this is because Gasperini gave them an idea of football. He doesn’t betray the style.”
On the substitutions he said that “Having five means changing the team by almost 50%. At the hour mark Atalanta’s trident has come out, Djimsiti and Ilicic have entered, who are no longer the same players as two years before, Piccoli who is not Zapata, which allows you to put in Dimarco in place of Bastoni, because Dimarco plays from defense to midfield, centre-back and wing-back in defense at the same time. By now he is a player of that level.”
He went on, “Vecino has given a contribution similar to that of Dimarco, he has changed the game. He gives you something else in the squad that no one else does.”
Of Barella he said, “I emphasize the great game of Barella, now a complete midfielder who plays at the level of the best in the world. It was said that a year ago he was among the three best midfielders in Europe but that was not true. He was the best of Inter last year but he has improved even more.”
“I’m not talking about numbers,” he went on, “I’m talking about levity, personality, knowing what to do in every situation, doing it right. He always makes a difference and he sees things first. In the last few games he gestures less, he is less temperamental.”
He concluded, “Matches like this honour football. Seeing them live makes you understand the intensity, the courage, the transport of the people. A Champions League match.”
