Wednesday saw some rather interesting claims emerge from England regarding Newcastle United and a strong interest in Nicolo Barella.
These were immediately denied in Italy despite the insistence on these shores, and that continues into Thursday with Gazzetta dello Sport leading the charge.
The newspaper have the story on their front page and dedicate a vast amount of column inches to the matter within their publication, making it clear the Newcastle target is simply not for sale.
They start off by saying ‘hands off Barella’, which they describe as the ‘instinctive reaction’ of those in charge of the Italian club, with them not phased in the slightest by the recent English headlines.
The question is, will that be enough to keep Newcastle away, or will Eddie Howe’s side keep chipping away at that wall until they get what they want?
Why the Premier League club want him is clear, as he showed the extent of his talent on the biggest platform this year in the Champions League, and he is a ‘fundamental cog’ in Simone Inzaghi’s plans in Milan.
Not only that, but he ‘dreamed of the Nerazzurri shirt since he was a child’, so it would take a lot to prise him away.
For Inter, he is the symbol of ‘present and future’, and Newcastle have been firmly warned.
