Barella, 300 Inter appearances

In facing Napoli, Nicolò Barella marks 300 appearances for Inter, making him the second-most capped player in the current squad, behind Lautaro Martinez (345)..

26 August 2019: it's a warm Monday evening in Milano at the end of the summer, and the city is slowly filling again after the holidays. For Inter and their fans, it’s no ordinary day: the Serie A 2019/20 season is about to begin. The first match is against newly promoted Lecce, and San Siro is packed, buzzing with excitement and hope for the campaign ahead. The Nerazzurri start in style, winning 4-0 with goals from Brozovic, Sensi, Lukaku, and Candreva. For one player in particular, the night is unforgettable: in the 66th minute, Nicolò Barella takes to the field. The 22-year-old Sardinian midfielder makes his competitive Inter debut, beginning what would become a remarkable journey. In his first season, Barella plays 41 matches and scores four goals, his first coming in the Champions League on 17 September against Slavia Praha, followed by his decisive Serie A strike against Verona in November. So begins a story in Nerazzurri colours, which has now reached a prestigious milestone.

Nicolò’s second season with Inter was a triumph: the Nerazzurri won the Scudetto – the 19th in the Club’s history – and Barella established himself as one of the team’s key pillars. He scored three goals in 36 appearances, including a crucial strike in the home win over Juventus, a match that symbolised Inter’s dominance that season. It was the first major trophy of Nicolò’s career, soon followed by another unforgettable success: winning Euro 2021 with Italy at Wembley.

After a magical, trophy-filled season, Nicolò soon had even more success with Inter. After lifting the Scudetto, Barella added two Coppa Italia titles – scoring a stunning goal in the 2021/22 final against Juventus – and three Supercoppa Italiana trophies, further cementing his place as a cornerstone of the Nerazzurri.

Nicolò is a modern midfielder, combining tireless running and determination with exceptional technical quality. His skill set makes him indispensable in Inter’s 3-5-2 system, and his talent has been recognised on the international stage too, earning UEFA’s MOTM award in major Champions League nights against top opponents (Barcelona 3-3 Inter in 2022/23, Manchester City 0-0 Inter in 2024/25).

After being named Midfielder of the Season for 2022/23 — his second time since 2020/21 — Barella began the 2023/24 campaign with added responsibility. Appointed Inter’s vice-captain, Nicolò took on an even greater leadership role within the team. It proved to be an unforgettable season: Inter dominated Serie A and clinched the Scudetto that earned them their Second Star – a legendary triumph. Once again, Barella was among the key figures, making 37 appearances and scoring one of the defining goals of the season in the Nerazzurri’s emphatic 3-0 win away to reigning champions Napoli.

The 2024/25 season was a record-breaking one for Nicolò, who made a remarkable 55 appearances across all competitions. A true leader in the Nerazzurri midfield, he played a central role in many of Inter’s most memorable nights, both in Serie A and the Champions League. Now, Barella has reached the milestone of 300 appearances for the Club. In the 2025/26 campaign so far, the No. 23 has featured in every single Inter match, even wearing the captain’s armband against Ajax and Sassuolo. A symbolic milestone in Nicolò’s Inter story – a journey that began on a warm August evening six years ago and continues to unfold with new, thrilling chapters.