NOLAN NEEDS GAME TIME

RYAN NOLAN may have to consider a loan move if he is to make it in Italy.

That is according to Sampdoria and Juventus legend Gianluca Vialli who insists game-time is key.

The Clare teenager, 19, above, signed professional terms with Inter Milan this month following a successful pre-season with the Serie A giants.

A defender, he left Ireland when he was eight and moved to Spain but was spotted as a 16-year-old by Inter and moved to Italy.

And now he has been rewarded with a pro deal ahead of the new season having starred in their underage teams.

“He has been with the club already so he has an idea of what will be required to be successful in Italy,” said Vialli yesterday.

“The main challenge will be to get minutes undr his belt, to get game time.

“It might be, at some stage, that he might have to consider going on loan, play and then go back to Inter when he is ready to break into the first team.”

Vialli also believes the cut-throat nature of Serie A means managers may be loathe to experiment with unproven youngsters.

“The only thing that counts is results,” he said. “But I hope he can bring something to the game.

“Sometimes we need somebody with a different mentality that adds something to our game and makes it a bit better.”