La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid reportedly consider 25-year-old Italian international Nicolo Barella as a long-term successor for Luka Modric.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Nicolo Barella has popped up on Real Madrid’s radar over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Merengues are eyeing the 25-year-old Inter Milan playmaker as a potential long-term successor to Luka Modric.
Nicolo Barella has long been regarded as the present and future of Italian football, having made significant progress since joining Inter Milan from Cagliari. At the same time, the Italian international has also become a pivotal figure for the Azzurri, playing a key role in their UEFA Euro 2020 triumph last year.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a solid 2021/22 campaign, registering two goals and ten assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. Barella’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, with some of the most high profile clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid, setting their sights on him.
The interest from Real Madrid stems from the advancing years of Luka Modric. The veteran Croatian international is in the twilight of his glittering career and will soon start getting phased out as a regular, even though he continues to produce clutch performances for Real Madrid.
But the Merengues need to be prepared for the time when Modric’s performance levels start waning, which is why they are laying down a succession plan for him. The plan involves a three-player shortlist of creative midfielders, with Barella featuring prominently in it.
Apart from Barella, Lovro Majer and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are also on Real Madrid’s radar. But Barella will be a like-for-like successor for Modric, fitting the style of play perfectly and making him the most appealing target for Real Madrid.
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But the Spanish giants are yet to decide when they will launch the offensive for Barella. For now, the 25-year-old Italian international has emerged on Real Madrid’s agenda for the summer transfer window.
Emerge where? Real Madrid is no more. Just a matter of time before they crash again. Forget Barella, instead give us Casemiro and luca jovic and take a bow.