Cagliari’s director of football Marcello Carli has confirmed Chelsea tried their best to sign midfielder Nicolo Barella last January, before his eventual loan move to Inter Milan in the summer.
He told Corriere dello Sport: “Last January, Napoli did their best, like Atlético Madrid. Club president [Tommaso] Giulini said no. Chelsea did everything and more. Maurizio [Sarri] wanted to bring him despite the transfer ban."