Nicolo Barella: A Brief Biography
Nicolo Barella, a highly versatile Italian professional footballer, is renowned for his exceptional skills as a midfielder. He currently represents both Serie A club Inter Milan and the Italian national team, earning praise as one of Europe's finest midfielders. Wearing the number 8 jersey, Barella has also showcased his talents as a midfielder for Cagliari Calcio, both at the club and national levels. Barella began his football journey in the Cagliari Calcio academy and made his senior debut for the club in 2014. After progressing through various youth Italian national teams, he eventually joined the senior squad in 2018. His inclusion in the Italian national team started with his call-up for the World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Albania in October 2017. In his early career, Barella participated in the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship as a member of the Italy U19 team, achieving a commendable second-place finish. Furthermore, he achieved success with Inter Milan, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana during the 2022-2023 season. Notably, he was awarded the Player of the Match title for his remarkable performance in the 3-3 draw against Barcelona in the group stage, where he scored the opening goal.
Early Life
Nicolo Barella, an Italian footballer, was born on February 7, 1997, in Cagliari, Italy. He identifies as Italian nationality, belonging to the Italian-white ethnicity. His religious affiliation is Christian, and he belongs to a white racial background. At present, he is 26 years old and celebrates his birthday on February 7, coinciding with the zodiac sign Aquarius. He was raised in the company of his younger sister, Martina Barella, by his father, Luca Barella, while his mother's identity remains undisclosed.
Club Career
Cagliari and short spell in Como
- Nicolo Barella commenced his football journey by making his debut on January 15, 2015, in a Coppa Italia match against Parma at the Tardini, resulting in a 2-1 loss. Later, on May 4, 2015, he made his first appearance in Serie A, once again facing Parma, where he came on as a substitute for Diego Farias in a resounding 4-0 home victory.
- In January 2016, he was sent on loan to Como in Serie B, where he established himself as a regular starter for the latter part of the season. Upon his return to Cagliari, on September 17, 2017, he scored his inaugural professional and Serie A goal against SPAL, contributing to a 2-0 triumph at home. Just three months later, at the age of 20 years, 10 months, and 9 days, he achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest captain in the history of Cagliari.
- On February 24, 2019, during a match against Sampdoria, which ended in a 1-0 defeat, Barella reached the milestone of 100 appearances for Cagliari at the age of 22. By the conclusion of the 2018-2019 Serie A season, he emerged as the player with the highest number of balls recovered (253), earning him the prestigious Premio Bulgarelli Number 8 as the season's best midfielder. Additionally, he received his first inclusion in the Serie A Team of the Year.
Inter Milan
- Nicolo joined Inter Milan on a one-year loan deal on July 12, 2019, with a subsequent obligation to purchase and a four-year contract to follow the loan period. He made his debut for the club on August 26, coming off the bench in the second half against Lecce. During that match, he assisted Antonio Candreva's goal, contributing to a 4-0 home victory in Inter's opening game of the 2019-2020 Serie A season. He also marked his Champions League debut on September 17 against Slavia Prague, scoring a crucial injury-time equalizing goal after coming on as a substitute. This goal not only secured a 1-1 draw but also marked his first goal in both the competition and for Inter.
- Throughout the season, he continued to make significant contributions, scoring his first league goal for Inter on November 9 in a comeback 2-1 home win against Verona. He also netted his first goal in the Coppa Italia on January 29, 2020, in a 2-1 home victory over Fiorentina in the quarter-finals. Under Barella's influence, Inter reached the final of the 2020 UEFA Europa League, though they ultimately lost to Sevilla. The season concluded with Barella's inclusion in the Serie A Team of the Year and the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season.
- On January 17, 2021, Barella played a vital role in a 2-0 home win against rivals and defending champions Juventus in Serie A. He provided an assist for Arturo Vidal's goal and scored the second goal himself. At the end of the 2020-2021 Serie A season, Barella secured the Scudetto with Inter and received the accolade of Best Midfielder from Lega Serie A. He was also included in the Serie A Team of the Year for the third consecutive year.
- On November 5, 2021, he extended his contract with Inter, committing himself to the club until 2026. In the 2021-2022 season, he played a crucial role in Inter's victories in the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. His impressive performance included 12 assists, the highest number for an Inter player since Opta Sports started collecting such data in 2004-05. At the end of the season, Barella was once again selected for the Serie A Team of the Year, marking his fourth consecutive inclusion.
- Continuing his success in the 2022-2023 season, he secured another Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana triumph with Inter. He provided an assist for Lautaro Martinez's goal in the Coppa Italia final. Furthermore, he was honored with the Best Midfielder title by Lega Serie A.
- In the Champions League, Barella played a pivotal role in Inter's journey to the final, their first in 13 years. His exceptional performance in the 3-3 draw against Barcelona, where he scored the opening goal, earned him the Player of the Match award during the tournament.
International career
- Nicolo showcased his talent and represented Italy in various international tournaments. He participated in the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with the Italy U19 team, finishing as runners-up. He continued his international journey with the Italy U20 team, competing in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup and achieving a commendable third-place finish.
- His progression continued as he made his debut for the Italy U21 team on September 1, 2017, in a friendly match against Spain, which unfortunately resulted in a 3-0 defeat. His impressive performances caught the attention of the senior Italy squad, and he received a call-up from manager Gian Piero Ventura for the team's 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Albania in October 2017.
- He made his debut for the Italy senior side on October 10, 2018, under manager Roberto Mancini, in a friendly match against Ukraine, which ended in a 1-1 draw. It was during a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match against Finland on March 23, 2019, that Barella scored his first goal for Italy in a 2-0 victory.
- He continued his international journey by representing the Italy U21 team in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. In June 2021, Barella was selected to be part of Italy's squad for the rescheduled UEFA Euro 2020. He made significant contributions during the tournament, including assisting Manuel Locatelli's goal in Italy's 3-0 win over Switzerland, securing their place in the round of 16.
- In the quarter-finals, Barella scored Italy's opening goal and provided an assist for Lorenzo Insigne's goal in a 2-1 victory over Belgium. Ultimately, he played a crucial role in Italy's triumph in the European Championship, as they emerged victorious in the final against England with a 3-2 penalty shoot-out win after a 1-1 draw in extra time. Barella was substituted in the second half of regulation time.
- Furthermore, on October 10, he scored the opening goal in a 2-1 home win over Belgium in the bronze medal match of the 2020-2021 UEFA Nations League, showcasing his impact on the international stage.
Awards and Achievements
Inter Milan
- Serie A: 2020-2021
- Coppa Italia: 2021-2022, 2022-2023
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2021, 2022
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2022-2023
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2019-2020
Italy U19
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship runner-up: 2016
Italy U20
- FIFA U-20 World Cup third place: 2017
Italy
- UEFA European Championship: 2020
- UEFA Nations League third place: 2020-2021, 2022-2023
Individual
- Ballon d'Or nominee: 2021
- Premio Bulgarelli Number 8: 2019
- Serie A Team of the Year (4): 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022
- UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2019-2020
- Serie A Best Midfielder: 2020-2021, 2022-2023
- Gazzetta Sports Awards Exploit of the Year: 2021
- Giuseppe Prisco Award: 2022
Transfer History
- Inter on 1st September 2020 at 25m euros
- Cagliari on 31st August 2020 at the end of the loan
- Inter on 12th July 2019 at 12m euros a loan
- Como on 5th January 2016 at the loan
- Cagliari at the end of the loan
Nicolo Barella married life: Wife & children
Nicolo Barella entered the realm of matrimony in 2018, joining in holy matrimony with his beloved wife, Federica Schievenin. At a tender age, before reaching 20, he took the momentous step of marrying his girlfriend. Their union has been blessed with three children, namely Rebecca, Lavinia, and Matilde. Within their family, an atmosphere of love and joy prevails, as Barella shares a deep connection with his cherished partner and adored children. Their strong bond and understanding have served as the foundation for their enduring relationship. As for Nicolo's sexual orientation, he identifies as straight.
Nicolo Barella's net worth, salary, source of income
Nicolo Barella is a remarkable individual who possesses a diverse range of experiences and steadfastly remains committed to every endeavor he undertakes. As of 2023, his net worth stands at an impressive $15 million, with an annual salary of approximately €4.6 million. His market value currently sits at €75.00 million as of June 15, 2023, marking his highest market value to date. Already achieving great heights in his career, Barella still has an exciting journey ahead, filled with immense potential. He possesses the drive and talent to flourish in sports, and with his diligent efforts and a touch of good fortune, he has the capability to increase his wealth twofold. It's worth noting that his primary source of income stems from his successful football career.
Nicolo Barella measurements: Height, weight & size
Nicolo Barella possesses a height of 1.72m (5 feet 8 inches) and maintains a body weight of 68kg. He showcases an athletic physique, exuding strength, and agility. With captivating brown eyes and light brown hair, he emanates an alluring presence. His ethical background likely contributes to his confident and striking personality. His well-proportioned figure, complemented by his ideal height and masculine appearance, places him at the pinnacle of desirability among young women of his generation.
