This summer, Manchester City is considering hiring Nicol Barella to take Ilkay Gundogan’s position.
The German, whose contract expires at the end of the month, is still making just as big of an impact on Pep Guardiola’s team as he did at the Etihad.
This season, the midfielder has 11 goals and 7 assists while scoring three doubles in his past 6 contests. In the FA Cup final, Gundogan humiliated Manchester United by scoring twice from outside the 18-yard box.
So how can Manchester City replace a player who is so crucial?
Nicolo Barella is expected to join Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola wants Barella at Man City to replace the Barcelona-bound Gundogan, according to sources in Italy (via Sport Witness), and may have a very good opportunity to meet with him this weekend.
On Saturday at 8 p.m. BST, Inter and City will face off in the UEFA Champions League final, but thereafter, there may be an opportunity to talk about Barella joining Man City this summer.
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A “mind-boggling offer to snatch him from Inzaghi” might be made by Guardiola, who “dotes” on the Italian master. Although it is not stated in the report how much it would cost, Inter Live claimed in February that they wanted to part ways with Barella for €90-100m (£80-88.5m).
According to FC Inter News and Sportmediaset, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle United are also “closely” watching Barella.
Nicolo Barella’s skill level.
Steven Gerrard waxed poetic about Barella when providing analysis for Channel 4 prior to a Euro 2024 qualifying match against Italy in March.
“They [Italy] have emerging world-class players,” he remarked. You now have individuals like Barella and Raspadori. Over the course of their careers, these players have the potential to reach the highest levels.
It’s no accident that Barella and his Inter colleagues made it to the Champions League final because he has consistently shown his class.
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Barella is a very dangerous midfielder to play against, much like Gundogan. In addition to being able to control games by playing more passes into the box than 90% of midfielders in Europe, he also poses a danger to score himself from inside the 18-yard box. He has nine goals and 10 assists this season, which is more than projected in terms of goals and assists.
Barella would take Gundogan’s place, emphasising once more Man City’s tenacious commitment to the transfer market. Rarely has a team been this steady in replacing important players; when Sergio Aguero left, Erling Haaland took over quickly.
The champions of the Premier League may then move on to Barella.
