Ex Inter Milan, AC Milan & Real Madrid Star Makes Shocking Claim: ‘He Is Better Than Nicolo Barella’ | OneFootball

Former Inter Milan striker Antonio Cassano feels that midfielder Davide Frattesi is a better player than his teammate Nicolo Barella.

The ever-opinionated Cassano made the bold claim on the Viva El Football program, via FCInterNews.

Frattesi has become a hot topic of discussion since his move to Inter.

Whether it is the 25-year-old’s form, his goals, or his playing time, there has always seemed to be a lively debate.

Inter paid big money to sign Frattesi from Sassuolo. Therefore, it has perhaps seemed a bit odd that he has not had a clearer path into the Nerazzurri starting eleven.

Then, there is the fact that Frattesi starts regularly for the Italian national team.

If anything, the 25-year-old has proven a more important player for the Azzurri than the Nerazzurri.

Cassano: “Davide Frattesi Better Than Nicolo Barella”

By and large, the consensus is that at Inter Frattesi has the obstacle of trying to break into a well-established starting eleven.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Nicolo Barella have been a stalwart trio for the Nerazzurri under Simone Inzaghi.

And it is Barella who is, on paper, Frattesi’s most direct rival for a starting spot.

The two midfielders have shown for Italy that they can play together. But both do prefer to play on the right of midfield.

And Barella is certainly the player with more experience of the duo.

Former Inter, Real Madrid, and AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano said that “I’m crazy for midfielders like Gavi and Frenkie de Jong.”

“That’s why I say Frattesi should play, not Nicolo Barella.”

“For the national team as well as Inter,” Cassano said. “Because the pitch does the talking.”

“But then you’d have to take out Mkhitaryan, and another phenomenal player, Piotr Zielinski.”

“But in Simone Inzaghi’s way of thinking, it’s always the same midfield,” Cassano said. “Hakan Calhanoglu, Barella, Hnerikh Mkhitaryan.”

“And he doesn’t allow Frattesi to compete with Barella. Even though he’s been doing better since last season.”

“He makes him the 12th man,” Cassano said. “But I think it’s a lack of respect to him.”

“The pitch does the talking and it says Frattesi should play more than Barella. But Barella always does play, and Frattesi is never taken into consideration in the biggest matches.”