Nicolò Barella convinced everyone in the role of assistant striker, especially Luciano Spalletti. The Inter midfielder was deployed behind Mateo Retegui in the match in Brussels which saw Italy beat Belgium 1-0 and played a good match. “All-rounder rather than sub forward. He starts behind Retegui, but then is everywhere looking for the best space to make the difference”, the opinion of TMW.
This is the comment from the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’: “It’s not easy to float like this in a ‘new’ role, but he participates twice in the 1-0, has a brilliant intuition for Frattesi and buzzes, disturbing Onana”. “He must find movements and sensations that belong to his Cagliari, not to Inter. He creates the goal, stealing the ball in midfield and inspiring Di Lorenzo”, adds the ‘Corriere dello Sport’.
Thus the ‘Corriere della Sera’: “Fake ten. In reality he goes around the field, opening up spaces and integrating well into the rotations. His is the deep pass for Di
Lorenzo in the action of the decisive goal. Great ball to Frattesi. He grows a lot in the second half, when the match becomes a battle”. “He starts the scoring action, but as an attacking midfielder he is a bit on the brakes”, we read this morning in ‘La Repubblica’.
Nicolò Barella’s report cards
TMW – 6.5
Gazzetta dello Sport – 7
Corriere dello Sport – 6.5
TuttoSport – 6.5
Corriere della Sera – 7
The Republic – 6