Barella injury gives Frattesi opportunity but two questions still unanswered | OneFootball

With Nicolò Barella reportedly ruled out until the second half of October after picking up a muscular injury, Davide Frattesi is the Inter player who will arguably benefit the most from the midfielder’s absence, as coach Simone Inzaghi is expected to give him more playing time, writes Alessandro Bai.

Sky Sport Italia reported that Barella suffered rectus femoris strain, as confirmed by medical tests undergone on Tuesday, and will only return to action after October’s international break.

While the injury will deprive Inter of a fundamental piece of their starting midfield trio, Frattesi will be presented with a big chance to earn more time on the pitch and possibly persuade Inzaghi to reconsider his status.

The former Sassuolo midfielder was mainly seen as Barella’s backup since joining the Nerazzurri in the summer of 2023, and despite making a total of 32 Serie A appearances last season, he came on as a substitute as much as 26 times.

Is Frattesi just considered Barella’s backup?

Frattesi was already reportedly frustrated about his lack of playing time at the end of last season, especially after Inter decided to sign Piotr Zielinksi on a free transfer, a move that seemed to further limit his chances to play regularly.

The pressure on Inzaghi to start Frattesi more often increased after the latest international break, during which the 25-year-old once again proved a key player to Luciano Spalletti’s Italy, scoring two goals from as many games and reconfirming himself as the most prolific player of the bunch since the former Napoli boss took over, with six goals.

Frattesi played all 90 minutes during Inter’s 1-1 draw at Monza, but then he was benched again against Manchester City and Milan, coming on in the second-half on both occasions for a combined 35 minutes.

The Italy midfielder’s difficulties in earning a spot in the starting XI are raising questions on whether Inzaghi actually considers him just a replacement for Barella, as the two were rarely seen playing together as happened in the national team instead.

But as much as this could be the case, there’s a chance that Inzaghi’s reluctance to give Frattesi more room in the starting line-up is also tied to tactical reasons.

Does Frattesi suit Inzaghi’s playing style?

Frattesi has little to prove in terms of offensive contribution, as he scored six goals and delivered four assists in Serie A despite starting just six of the 32 games he played.

However, Inter’s complex playing style, which Inzaghi has refined throughout the seasons, is all about synchronised movements and wise management of ball possession to create gaps, something that doesn’t seem to fully fit Frattesi’s set of skills.

The former Sassuolo midfielder has a penchant for a more direct game, as he loves sprinting towards the goal and making his presence felt in the opponents’ box with his perfectly-timed offensive runs, which make him a constant threat.

Yet, such a profile doesn’t always match what Inzaghi and Inter need. For example, the Nerazzurri started to struggle when Frattesi came on alongside Kristjan Asllani in the second-half of the Derby della Madonnina to replace starting duo Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu. Their inability to consolidate possession in the opponents’ half allowed Milan to win the ball back more easily and repeatedly break towards Inter’s goal.

Whatever the reasons behind Inzaghi’s choices so far, Barella’s absence will now present Frattesi with plenty of opportunities to show his worth and become more familiar with his coach’s system, being able to understand whether he can become a more reliable option or should look elsewhere in the future if he wants to be considered an undisputed starter.