Earlier on Thursday, claims from The Telegraph stated Newcastle United are closing in on signing Nicolo Barella from Inter Milan for £50m.
That claim was quickly countered in Italy by Calciomercato, who said the player’s agent hasn’t even had contact with the Magpies. Reading between the lines it seemed like Calciomercato had contacted the player’s agent, who had then denied any contact.
Of course, that doesn’t completely rule out there has been contact, with an agent unlikely to want to drop his client into trouble with the Inter faithful, but they did seem pretty sure.
In addition to that it was made clear that Inter simply wouldn’t sell the midfielder for £50m anyway.
Gazzetta dello Sport have now shared their take.
The famous Italian newspaper report an intermediary has ‘tested the waters’.
That intermediary has made it known to Inter than Newcastle are interested in Barella, related to a deal for the summer window.
Gazzetta go on to say: ‘The first proposal on the table would be 50 million pounds or 58 million euros. Not enough to intrigue the Viale della Liberazione club, but… it’s a start.’
That may sound promising, but a few sentences later, the report says: ‘Inter consider him non-transferable.’
The Serie A club’s owners don’t want to give up such a ‘precious’ player, and it’s said Barella ‘dreams of a top club’ in the event he leaves and ‘the Magpies are not yet on the level of the other greats’.
The Italian newspaper also explain Barella is on a good salary, earning €5.5m a year plus bonuses. That figure is likely to be after tax, given that’s how football salaries are almost always reported in Italy.
Want a little hope to end with? Ok, here you go, this is Gazzetta’s last say on the Barella situation: ‘The signal launched by Newcastle, however, may not remain isolated and it is probable that it was only a first approach, with the figure destined to rise. Than we will see.’
