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Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool target Barella: 'Move for ambition, not money'

  /  autty

Sought-after Nicolò Barella assures he would “not leave Cagliari for money, but only for ambition,” with a hint that will please Inter.

The 21-year-old midfielder has been very impressive in Serie A this season and earned his first two Italy caps this month.

He has been linked with the likes of Milan, Inter, Napoli, Roma, Juventus, Liverpool and Chelsea.

“If and when I was to leave Cagliari, it would never be for money, but only for ambition,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport’s SportWeek magazine.

“I am not interested in a Ferrari or a stylish penthouse suite. I don’t play football so that I can buy nice cars.”

There is some good news for Inter in this battle to win Barella’s signature.

“I have always supported Cagliari, but my family are all Inter fans, so as a kid when Inter would win, I’d be happy.

“I feel part of a population here in Sardinia and it’s not just the support of the fans that I feel, but the passion of an entire community. It makes me very proud, while you celebrate victories more than anyone else and suffer the defeats more too.”

If he were to join Inter, Barella would be following in the footsteps of Radja Nainggolan.

“I have been compared to Nainggolan, but he has more physical strength. As a trequartista, I am given more freedom to roam, but don’t think I’m as much use in winning back the ball.

“I do pick up a lot of yellow cards, but that doesn’t mean I’m nasty. I just want to win, to ensure the opponent doesn’t get away from me and therefore I go all in with the tackle.”