Barella targets greater end product after heavy Italy workload

Barella targets greater end product after heavy Italy workload Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella has admitted that he needs to score more for Italy, while crediting Roberto Mancini with helping the Azzurri feel calm and recover their enthusiasm. Barella discussed his international contribution at a press conference before Italy’s Nations League fixture against Türkiye in Bologna on Monday 5 October. Football Italia reported that he was expected to return to the starting XI after missing the trip to Türkiye and appearing only as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with France; his selection was not confirmed. Italy had opened the run with a 2-0 defeat to Belgium, then beaten Türkiye 4-1 before drawing in Paris. Alessandro Bastoni scored Italy’s equaliser against France, adding another Nerazzurri contribution to the international window. Barella calls for more goals in Italy colours Barella said he was not disappointed to have been left out against France, stressing that the team’s needs come first. He also described Mancini’s current spell on the Italy bench as a second era and said the coach had urged the players to rediscover their enthusiasm after difficult experiences in recent years. Federico Dimarco was another established Inter player involved in Italy’s squad during the same period. Barella also pointed to the physical demands of his workload: playing 70 games a year, he said, affects the sharpness he had at 23, though he remains among those covering the most ground. His assessment puts the emphasis on adding end product to that work-rate. Türkiye had lost all three Nations League matches covered in the report, scoring once and conceding eight, but were without injured Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz. Barella warned that the visitors would be eager to respond; Pio Esposito was another Inter name in Italy’s international picture.