Inter Milan confirm the signing of Nicolo Barella from Cagliari Calcio

Inter Milan have confirmed the signing of midfielder Nicola Barella from Cagliari Calcio. The Italy international has joined the Nerazzurri on an initial year-long loan but the club have agreed on an obligatory buy option at the end of the season. A statement on Inter’s website read: “Nicolò Barella is officially an Inter player. The Italian midfielder has joined the Club from Cagliari Calcio on an initial year-long loan deal, with there being an obligation to buy at the end of that period. Barella has put pen to paper on a five-year contract. He’s determined and ambitious, and now he’s beginning a new adventure with Inter. The whole of the Nerazzurri family wishes him the best of luck.”

Barella was initially touted to part ways with Cagliari during the 2019 winter transfer window whereby he had attracted interest from Premier League duo Chelsea and Arsenal. However, neither of those teams were prepared to meet the midfielder’s £45m valuation and that has eventually paved the way for the Nerazzurri to agree on the package during the current transfer window.

Inter have transformed into a regular top-four outfit during the past two seasons but they have not been able to go further and compete for the Serie A title. That appears a harder task for next season with Juventus strengthening their squad further but the Nerazzurri could be in the mix, should they find the consistency which has been lacking over the course of a 38-game season.

Barella becomes the clubs eighth signing of this summer’s transfer window and the spending could continue during the forthcoming weeks. The Nerazzurri are keen on pursuing a new marksman with the expected departure of Mauro Icardi and reports suggest that Romelu Lukaku has been earmarked as the prime target. The Belgian could cost around £75m from Manchester United.