Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella showed his leadership ability for Italy in yesterday’s 1-1 draw against North Macedonia.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, via FCInterNews, who give the 26-year-old Nerazzurri midfielder a score of 6.5/10 in the player ratings for the EURO 2024 qualifier.

Yesterday, the Italian national team began a new era.

For the first time, ex-Napoli, Inter, and Roma coach Luciano Spalletti took charge of a competitive fixture for the Azzurri.

And in truth, it was not the note on which Spalletti and Italy will have wanted to start.

Italy dominated the ball against a technically inferior North Macedonia side. That did not come as much of a surprise.

But Spalletti’s men struggled to fashion many telling chances.

Lazio captain Ciro Immobile found the back of the net early in the second half. But then in the 81st minute of the match, Trabzonspor midfielder Enis Bardhi equalized.

Spalletti and Italy have to settle for a point which leaves them three points behind Ukraine in their qualifying group, albeit with a game in hand.

Inter Midfielder Nicolo Barella Showed Leadership For Italy Vs North Macedonia

In the view of the Corriere della Sera, Inter midfielder Barella’s performance was worthy of a 6.5/10 score.

The 26-year-old showed that he is up to the task of being the Azzurri’s main man in midfield under Luciano Spalletti.

And as much as Barella’s technical and physical performance, the newspaper highlight the more intangible side to his game.

It was Barella who frequently took the task of urging his teammates on. Even in a match where Italy were a long way from their best, the Inter midfielder showed great determination and proactivity, never hiding from the ball.

Meanwhile, both of Barella’s Inter teammates Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco received scores of 6/10.