Former Inter defender Massimo Paganin believes that Nerazzurri midfielder Nicolo Barella must add a more composure and patience to his game in order to become club captain.

Speaking to Italian news outlet FCInter1908, Paganin gave his thoughts on the question of Barella as potential club captain after Samir Handanovic among a number of topics relevant to the club.

Handanovic is 37 and not likely to stay on as a regular starter for much longer at the Nerazzurri, and the question of who will be given the captain’s armband in his absence is an important one at the club.

Barella has already made a significant impact at Inter since arriving from Cagliari in the summer of 2019, and he has also committed his future to the club by signing a contract extension taking him until 2026.

However, there is more that is needed to become the skipper, and Paganin isn’t entirely sure that the midfielder has shown all the right qualities.

He began by giving his thoughts on recently passes former Inter Sporting Director Peppino Prisco, stating that “He was an extraordinary person: a fan, a person of culture who has always been close to Inter, always supporting and defending them.”

“One of those fans that every team needs,” he added. “Always reliable, with the right attitude in every situation. He knew how to comfort you and to scold you when it was needed. A true fan, of the kind who wrote important pages in the club’s history.”

Asked whether he feels the glass is half empty or half full for Inter in the Champions League following a defeat against Real Madrid in the last group stage match he stated that “For me it is half full.”

“I liked the attitude of the team, the personality, the attitude, the tactical ideas,” he went on. “However, there is still a difference between the two teams.”

Paganin suggested that “If we think of Real Madrid as one of the potential Champions League winners, everyone agrees, while for Inter this does not yet seem possible.”

“The Nerazzurri took the field to see where they are on the path started two years ago and how big the gap still is with the biggest sides in Europe.” he added.

“There are intermediate steps to take,” he explained, “you don’t go from winning the league to winning the Champions League immediately. But the team is going in the right direction to keep growing.”

On who he’d like to see the Nerazzurri meet in the round of sixteen, Paganin stated that “I would prefer they meet one of the less-heralded sides, I’d include Manchester United in that group.”

“It will be essential to get past this round, to be among the last eight in Europe,” he went on. “We have seen that, for example, Atalanta almost made it through against PSG last year.”

“For me, the form in which the teams face each other is very important,” he added. “Liverpool and Bayern are not within reach, I would prefer to make it one round further and then we’ll see how it goes in the quarter-finals.”

On Inter’s Scudetto credentials Paganin stated that “They’re the favourites, because they have already won. They have undermined the dominance of Juventus, and this gives them belief.”

“Before the result against Real Madrid, in the last eleven Inter have won nine, and drawn two,” he reflected. “They have already made it to a very significant point.”

“Winning all their matches before the Christimas break is in reach,” he continued. “It will be very important to finish in ahead of everyone else at the end of the yet, so that the pressure is put on the other teams.”

Paganin reminded that “Inter have only lost against Lazio, in a strange match. In the rest, even in head-to-head clashes, Inter always could have won.”

“The Nerazzurri have proven to be a difficult team to beat,” he explained, “and this increases self-belief. It’s been improving in the past few years and winning was important. And Inzaghi is doing a great job.”

He noted that “Inter found themselves at in a difficult moment without Lukaku, Hakimi and Eriksen. Replacing such important players wasn’t easy. But on the right a good player like Dumfries arrived, and Dzeko is doing very well up front.”

“Calhanoglu is also making a big contribution,” he went on. “Maybe in buildup he struggles more than Eriksen, but he plays closer to the goal. Solutions have been found.”

“Inzaghi’s work is excellent,” he explained, “he has exploited the mentality given by Conte, and then given more freedom to the players on the pitch.”

“The team tries to win the ball high up the pitch, and has found an important balance in both phases,” he continued. “They create a lot, they have scored the third-highest number of goals in Europe. This means that the team is working very well.”

On the nature of going from a match like that against Real Madrid to tomorrow’s clash with Cagliari, he stated that “This is how it is with top teams, it is the difficult part of having to wear such a great shirt.”

“Each game is an test, a goal to be achieved,” he went on. “If you want to win the Scudetto, you must also win against Cagliari.”

“Nerves need to be focused back on the league immediately,” he explained. “Along the team’s growth there are games like the one on Sunday evening in which all the pressure is on you, and you have to know how to manage them.”

Of the performances by the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella against Real, he stated that “A match like the one in Madrid is part of growing.”

“Being the captain of Inter means always being attentive, lucid, and concentrating, always living up to expectations,” he added. “Nicolo is 24 years old, he is growing up.”

“The sending off, as far as I’m concerned, might as well not count,” he continued. “If he had warned them both, nothing would have happened. Obviously,he shouldn’t have reacted like that, but in during the development of a player these things happen.”

“We certainly cannot throw away everything that he has done in recent seasons,” he added.

“The same thing applies to Lautaro,” Paganin stated, “he is improving, growing, his performances are showing that. In Europe there is a further step missing, but that is true of the whole team and not just him.”