26-year-old who Newcastle reportedly tried to sign this summer now nominated for the Ballon d’Or

26-year-old who Newcastle reportedly tried to sign this summer now nominated for the Ballon d’Or

Eddie Howe has said that Sandro Tonali was his priority target for Newcastle United this summer but there was another Italian linked with Newcastle before that move materialised with Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella heavily linked.

We know all to well at this point that Newcastle like to do their transfer business away from prying eyes as much as possible, often throwing up smokescreens in the form of fake stories in order to detract from the real business.

 

This summer the media was adamant Newcastle were going to sign Inter Milan‘s Nicolo Barella for around £80million, but just as that rumour died down, Newcastle swooped for Sandro Tonali from AC Milan.

Nicolo Barella was the first big rumour of Newcastle’s summer

Whether the Barella interest was genuine or a diversionary tactic while they got the deal done for Tonali it certainly got Newcastle fans excited that they could be about to see a truly world-class player come to the Toon.

 

New reports from Corriere dello Sport in Italy (via Sports Witness) have now suggested that the interest was genuine and in fact Newcastle came the closest to making a genuine offer for Barella but were rejected by both club and player.

Newcastle fans are certainly more than happy with Sandro Tonali coming in as another world-class Italian midfielder, however Barella can now boast something that Tonali can’t … not yet at least.

 

Newcastle will soon have players on that Ballon d’Or shortlist
Nicolo Barella has been placed on the shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or for his part in Inter Milan’s Champions League achievements.

Barella finds himself in the company of a few other players the media linked to Newcastle this summer with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-Jae also shortlisted.

Sandro Tonali and even Bruno Guimaraes both have what it takes to find themselves on that list in the future and I’m sure it won’t be long before we see some Newcastle United names nominated for the prestigious award.