Real Madrid are reportedly willing to trade Dani Ceballos and Nacho Fernandez to Inter Milan to secure the signing of Nicolo Barella this summer.
According to Italian outlet CMW, Real Madrid are ready to step up their interest in Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella and are prepared to offer two players in a deal to sign the Italian international.
Barella has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Italy since bursting onto the scenes at Cagliari before moving to Inter Milan in 2019. The 25-year-old played a key role in the Nerazzurri’s Serie A title triumph during the 2020/21 season and enjoyed a productive campaign last time out as well, despite a slight decline in form.
Barella finished the 2021/22 season with a tally of four goals and 13 assists from 48 matches across all competitions. A part of the Italy squad that won UEFA Euro 2020 last year, the midfielder has attracted a lot of interest from clubs around Europe, with Real Madrid also casting admiring glances toward him.
Real Madrid have held an interest in Barella for quite some time now. However, recent reports had indicated that Los Blancos were willing to hold off until 2023 before pursuing him as a replacement for Luka Modric, who signed a one-year contract extension earlier this month. Given that they also signed Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco, there does not seem to be an urgent need for a new midfielder either.
However, as per the CMW report, Real Madrid are pressing ahead with their pursuit of Barella this summer itself. It could potentially be a reaction to Toni Kroos not signing a new contract, with his current one expiring next year, which leaves them exposed to overtures from other clubs for the veteran German star.
With Kroos’ future now uncertain and Dani Ceballos also likely to depart, another new midfielder could now arrive at Real Madrid, with Barella emerging as a prime target. And the report states that the Spanish and European champions are willing to offer two players to Inter Milan to secure the services of the Italian international.
The two players who will be offered by Real Madrid, as per CMW, are Ceballos and Nacho Fernandez. The former has been linked with a move to the Italian outfit in the past, while the latter, too, has recently emerged as a potential target for the Nerazzurri amid question marks over some of their current centre-backs.
However, the report adds that Inter Milan, despite their financial woes, intend to keep Barella at the club and plan to knock back any offers that come for him this summer. Unless Real Madrid come up with a proposal that is too good to turn down, the 25-year-old is likely to stay put at San Siro for now.
