GETTING TO KNOW BARELLA - Passion for the NBA (named his dog "Lebron"), prefers local resorts to Ibiza and looks to be the next Dejan Stankovic
He still lacks that one thing: to meet LeBron James. “My dream,” he calls it. He named his dog “Lebron” also because of his passion for the NBA. Sooner or later Barella will see the basketball superstar in an American area live in person. The other dream, to build a house with garden and swimming pool, will also happen soon because yesterday he became an Inter player with big wages. That can make you daydream.
He and his Federica Schievenin, who is crazy for motorcycles, married last year and she has already made Nicolo a father twice: Rebecca, two years old, and Lavinia was born mid-April. A happy family that does not deny itself some luxury but does not give in to being excessive. “I prefer Villasimius or Santa Margherita di Pula (two local resorts) to Ibiza and Formentera,” he once said. “When I was a boy, I was a rough kid but now I have changed.”
Breakthrough in Como - The turning point was in Como where Cagliari sent him in January 2016 under the care of Gianluca Festa to grow, play and mature quickly. He went and asked his friend, agent, tutor and also his kid’s Godfather in Alessandro Beltrami to give him the televisions to watch his beloved NBA at night and of course football.
Barellino, always with the number 18 on his back, learned everything that he can and with Federica, who is 7 years older than him, he returned to Cagliari to become the player he is now. He protests less and has more respect. Less useless runs and attacking more. Stealing balls, creating quality plays. He went through so many tutors and coaches in Cagliari from Rastelli, Maran, Cossu, Sau and Conti. Those are also his friends by the way as often they go on vacation together.
Quiet life - He lives a quiet and regular life. You only see “crazy” Barella a few times on the pitch. For the rest, he gives a lot of time to his family which is often seen at locations like Spiedo Sardo, Osteria Paradiso and Brace Vera. Dinners are made by parents Luca and Rita who would gladly keep the girls… in exchange for their son’s shirts. Because dad Luca, who sells Japanese air conditioners, is plagued by customer requests. Now, Mr. 45 million will have to think that a few thousand euros will be spent to satisfy the many fans. He refused to join Napoli in January and now Barella will try to be Inter’s next Dejan Stankovic, his real idol. The city of Milan welcomes him as king, now it’s up to him to be loved. And he will succeed. Former Inter player Gianfranco Matteoli discovered him for Cagliari’s youth sector. And now he has the difficult objective of finding another one.