Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella underwent nose surgery on Monday and could return to the fold already next week.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, as reported by FCInterNews, the 27-year-old went under the knife yesterday at the Humanitas Clinical Institute in Rozzano.
Therefore, Italy’s EURO 2024 star will skip the upcoming UEFA Nations League encounters against France and Israel.
Nicolo Barella has been in scintillating form this season.
After delivering an assist in an opening-day draw at Genoa, he opened his account for the 2024/25 season against Atalanta.
His first-half strike inspired Inter Milan to a stunning 4-0 home victory against La Dea on the stroke of the international break.
Barella would’ve been part of Luciano Spalletti’s squad. However, a nose injury has forced him out.
Nicolo Barella Undergoes Nose Surgery & Could Feature For Inter Milan Against Monza
Barella will undergo further scans in the coming days.
But there’s a feeling he’ll rejoin the group next week. In all likelihood, he’ll travel to the Brianteo Stadium next weekend.
Inter will take on Monza when Serie A returns to action in a fortnight.
Simone Inzaghi cannot afford to lose his standout midfielder early in the season, with the new Champions League campaign on the horizon.
Alongside Hakan Calhanoglu, Barella has been the cornerstone of Inzaghi’s midfield.
His dynamic performances were at the core of Inter’s Scudetto triumph last term.
With Inter looking to become the first team to defend the crown since Juventus five years ago, Barella’s fitness is of the essence.
The former Cagliari starlet has been the team’s driving force this season, pulling all the strings in the middle of the pitch.
Though Inzaghi now has Piotr Zielinski at his disposal, replacing a player of Barella’s quality is almost impossible.
Barella wore the captain’s armband against Lecce on matchday two, highlighting Inzaghi’s trust in his leadership skills.
