Luigi Di Biagio, former Italy U21 coach, has likened Nicolò Barella to a blend of early Kevin de Bruyne and Toni Kroos, acknowledging the Inter star’s transformation from a somewhat erratic player in his youth.
Di Biagio, who introduced Barella to the Italy U21 squad in 2017, praised his versatility and growth, stating, “Barella resembles the initial versions of Kevin De Bruyne, when he operated more centrally, and Toni Kroos, known for his late runs.” He reminisced about Barella’s early days, describing him as a “lively kid” who occasionally showed signs of inconsistency but developed into a complete footballer capable of excelling in any position.
Reflecting on Barella’s evolution, Di Biagio highlighted his maturation through experience, noting, “He used to play as a playmaker, but today, he has the maturity of a footballer who has played 300-400 games at a high level,” He cited examples of Barella’s effectiveness in various roles, particularly in a dual midfield setup, such as in Italy’s recent victory over Albania at EURO 2024, where Barella scored the decisive goal.
Currently celebrating his second Serie A title with Inter Milan, Barella has extended his contract with the club until 2029 and continues to be a pivotal figure for both club and country, tallying 10 goals in 54 appearances for Italy.
Nicolò Barella
Nicolò Barella
This season he played in total 37 times for 2832 minutes for Serie A.
Nicolò Barella scored 2 goals for Inter. He procured 3 assists. He received 8 yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 1st in Serie A. In the last match Inter drew 2-2 against Hellas Verona.
Inter performance and stats
Inter
Inter is currently 1st in the Serie A with 93 points.
In the last 38 games, it has won 29 times, drawn 7 times, and lost twice. In its last match, Inter drawn 2-2 against Hellas Verona.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 87 goals and conceding 20.
