Gran Galà del Calcio AIC – Special Edition: de Vrij and Barella rewarded

MILAN – Two Nerazzurri players picked up awards at the latest Gran Galà del Calcio AIC, an event organised by the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC) in order to recognise the best performances from the previous Serie A season. Indeed, the 2021 Special Edition saw Stefan de Vrij and Nicolò Barella make it into the 2019/20 Serie A TIM team of the year.

The Inter defender and midfielder were honoured following votes cast by coaches, referees, the Head Coach and former Head Coaches of the Italian National Team, as well as male and female Serie A players.

Stefan de Vrij, who was previously named as the best defender during the 2019/20 season by the Lega Serie A, commented on his latest achievement by recording a video message: “It is a great satisfaction to receive this award, given that it was voted for by my fellow players and coaches, it is an honour. We made an important step forward last season, with our results in the league and in the Europa League, we have grown individually but above all as a team”.

Nicolò Barella, meanwhile, has now picked up his second Gran Galà del Calcio AIC award after previously being honoured in December 2019 following an excellent 2018/19 campaign with Cagliari: "It is a great honour for me and it gives me immense pleasure, especially because this is the second consecutive year that I have received this award, it means that I’m working well, but above all, I have to thank the entire team and the club who have always shown confidence in me, which allows me to improve every day".