Inter Milan & AC Milan Linked Italy Star Praises Nerazzurri Trio, Admits ‘Transfer Rumours Are A Positive’ | OneFootball

Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci says that Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, and Nicolo Barella are among the best players for the Italian national team.

The 23-year-old spoke to Italian broadcaster DAZN, via FCInterNews, praising the Inter Milan trio. He also admitted that transfer rumours are “positive” amid links with Inter Milan and AC Milan.

Samuele Ricci has emerged as one of the outstanding young midfielders in Serie A.

The Italian international first came up to the Italian top flight with Empoli in the summer of 2021. Then, he got a move to Torino in January of 2022.

Since then, Ricci has been a regular in the starting lineup for the Granata.

This has earned Ricci a regular spot in the Italian national team squad.

And it has also meant that the transfer rumours have been inevitable.

The likes of Inter Milan and AC Milan have been particularly strongly linked with a move for Ricci. Potentially as early as this summer transfer window.

Ricci: “Bastoni, Dimarco & Barella Among The Best Players For Italy”

Playing for the Italian national team, Ricci has been a teammate of many of the players from the biggest clubs in Serie A.

Ricci gave his thoughts on players who have particularly made an impression on him for Italy.

BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Samuele Ricci of Torino looks on prior to the Serie A match between Atalanta and Torino at Gewiss Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

“One player who impressed me a lot is Tonali,” the 23-year-old said, naming the former AC Milan captain and current Newcastle United star.

“I’d like to take his aggression,” he explained of Tonali’s style of play.

“He’s a top player. As are Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco, and Barella.”

“But I’m not going to list them all,” said Ricci of players he admires from the Italy setup. “Because it’d be such a long list, it’s tough to choose.”

Meanwhile, Samuele Ricci addressed the transfer links around him. “Transfer rumours make me happy,” he admitted. “As with any player.”

“The important thing is to stay focused on what you’re doing. Because if you get too caught up in them you risk losing focus, which is a problem.”

Ricci said that “transfer rumours are a positive, but they can also do just as much harm.”

“It also depends on the character of the player. I try to stay here mentally.”