Nicolò Barella grew up in Cagliari and came through his hometown club, making his Serie A debut as a teenager. After a loan at Como, he returned to become Cagliari’s captain.
Inter signed him in 2019, and he has been one of the most important players in the team ever since. A tireless box-to-box midfielder, Barella combines pressing and tackling with creativity, assists and goals. He won Serie A in 2020/21 and 2023/24 and played in two Champions League finals.
Barella was a key player as Italy won Euro 2020.
Playing style
Barella is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in world football. He combines tireless running and aggressive pressing with creativity, assists and goals, making him effective in every phase of play. He is small but strong in the tackle, and his competitive spirit sometimes brings yellow cards. His technique allows him to play quick combinations in tight spaces and deliver accurate crosses. He has been central to Inter’s success, forming a midfield trio with Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan that was one of the best in Europe.
International career
Barella made his Italy debut in 2018 and has won more than 60 caps. He was a key player as Italy won Euro 2020, scoring in the quarter-final against Belgium. He also played at Euro 2024.
Career in numbers
Barella’s senior club career, which began in 2014/15, has so far brought 469 appearances and 36 goals for 3 clubs. His best scoring return came in 2022/23: 9 goals in 52 appearances for Inter Milan. His busiest campaign was 2024/25, with 55 appearances. So far in 2026/27 he has 1 goal in 6 appearances for Inter Milan. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.