Nicolò Barella may need to wait until he returns to Cagliari next weekend to make his debut for Inter, as Corriere dello Sport reported this morning.
Stefano Sensi is expected to get the nod in midfield for Monday’s Serie A opener against Lecce at San Siro, having played more matches during preseason.
Barella arrived late after representing Italy at the under-21 Euros in June and has taken longer to reach peak fitness.
He would come up against Radja Nainggolan at the Sardegna Arena if picked, following the Ninja’s decision to move in the opposite direction this summer.
CdS suggested it might be fitting for Barella to play his first match for Inter in ‘the most special match of all’ against the Rossoblu.
“Perhaps it’s best to arrive at that match in peak condition, maybe that’s what Antonio Conte has decided with regard to Nicolò,” they said.
Barella missed Inter’s summer training camp in Switzerland, which ended with a match against Lugano where Sensi scored his first goal of preseason.
The former Sassuolo man then found the net for a second time against Tottenham on 4 August, helping him consolidate a place in Conte’s XI on Monday night.
Both Sensi and Barella are set to be key players for Roberto Mancini as Italy continue qualification towards Euro 2020.
The Azzurri play Armenia and Finlan during the September international break, but before that Barella has a very special homecoming to make.
