Chelsea have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella, with reports in Italy indicating that he is keen to stay put in Serie A this summer.
The 22-year-old appears to be all but set for a move away from his current club ahead of next season, but a switch to the Premier League does not seem to be on the cards.
Barella, according to claims from Il Mattino, as cited by Calciomercato, has informed his entourage that he wants to continue performing at a high level in Italy’s top flight for the time being, with AC Milan and Roma his two preferred options.
This comes as a blow to Chelsea, who had reportedly held talks with Cagliari about a possible move in the future.
The Blues were not the only Premier League side to have expressed an interest in recruiting Barella, either.
Il Mattino’s report states that Manchester United were keen, while previous claims indicated that Arsenal wanted to secure his signature this summer.
