Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella has become a player with no real substitute or replacement in the Nerazzurri’s starting eleven.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who suggest that the 25-year-old’s well-rounded skillset and adaptability have made him essential to the team.

Barella is a player who tends to be heavily involved in all phases of the game, normally playing in his customary role on the right of a midfield trio as a mezzala or box-to-box midfielder.

The former Cagliari midfielder is energetic and physical, capable of tackling and pressing for ninety minutes, but also capable of participating in the buildup phase with his passing and of scoring goals.

This season as well, Barella has also improved the creative side of his game, chipping in with a career high nine assists already with two months left in the campaign.

For these reasons, there is no real like-for-like substitute for the midfielder, as finding a player who can do everything at a high level in the way that he does is rare.