Nicolò Barella Aims to Lead Inter to Success with Evolved Playing Style
As Inter prepares for their second season under coach Cristian Chivu, star midfielder Nicolò Barella has spoken about his goals for the upcoming campaign. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Barella emphasized the need to improve and adapt to the team’s requirements.

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According to Barella, Chivu has been emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collective effort. The Italian midfielder highlighted that the team’s objective for the 2026-27 season is to build upon their success in the previous campaign, where they won a domestic double. Barella expressed his commitment to helping the team achieve their goals and acknowledged the trust placed in him by Chivu.

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Barella has been with Inter since 2019 and has become a key figure in the team. As he enters his eighth season with the club, he has taken on a more significant leadership role. The 29-year-old midfielder revealed that he is working on developing a ‘smarter’ playing style, which involves being more conservative and self-managed. This change in approach is influenced by his physical condition and the team’s playing style, which features wing-backs pushing forward to support the attack.

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Barella also spoke about the team’s objectives in Europe, stating that their goal is to ‘dream’ of success in the Champions League. He acknowledged the challenges they face, particularly in comparison to other teams that spend heavily on transfers. The Italian midfielder expressed his desire to help the team overcome these obstacles and achieve their goals.
Inter have made some key signings, including the return of Aleksandar Stanković from Club Brugge. Barella praised Stanković’s maturity and expressed confidence in his ability to contribute to the team’s success. The midfielder also highlighted the importance of teamwork and the role that players like Petar Sucic have played in the team’s development.
Barella has a strong connection to Inter, having joined the club in 2019. He has spoken about his desire to end his career at the Stadio Meazza and become a reference point for the team. Barella has set his sights on becoming the player with the most appearances in Inter’s history and has expressed his pride in the journey so far.
As Inter prepares for the 2026-27 season, Barella’s leadership role and evolved playing style will be crucial in determining the team’s success. With his commitment to the team and his desire to achieve greatness, Barella is set to play a key role in Inter’s quest for glory.
Barella’s Quotes and Key Points:
- Improve even more compared to last year. We want to pick up where we left off, playing our best football.
- Help the team with my characteristics. Now that Lauti [Lautaro Marrtinz] is absent – I spoke to him before the final – I also need to make my presence felt a bit more, to act a bit like a captain.
- I’m trying to develop a slightly different style of play, as my body sometimes responds differently.
- I’m trying to play in a ‘smarter’ way in terms of self-management, being more conservative.
- We’ve come close twice; we hope a third opportunity comes, and that it’s the right one.
Key Statistics:
- Inter won a domestic double in the 2025-26 campaign.
- Barella has been with Inter since 2019 and has become a key figure in the team.
- The team’s objective for the 2026-27 season is to build upon their success in the previous campaign.