Nicolò Barella with an open heart. The Inter and National team midfielder tells his story in all its aspects, as he has never done before, in a long interview on the Youtube channel of radio host Matteo Caccia.

He talks about Inter, Cagliari, Sardinia, he talks about the psychological problems that he also faced because no one is exempt from them, not even millionaire footballers. And finally, he talks about Gigi Riva's funeral and those criticisms "that hurt me".

Gigi Riva

"In many things he was my teacher, I always respected him beyond the giant player that he was above all the person. A man who never sold himself, who always kept his image for himself or gave it only to those he wanted. For this he was much loved in Sardinia, he was the most Sardinian of Sardinians. And if I am like this it is also thanks to him".

He recalls an anecdote told to him by other footballers: "When Italy won the 2006 World Cup, he got off the celebration bus and walked away, because the players had won and they had to be celebrated. I see myself a lot in this. I laugh, I celebrate, I have fun, the party in the Duomo when we won the championship was beautiful. But the real party is with my family, with whoever I want."

The funeral: «I made a tough choice, that many didn't understand, especially in Cagliari. I didn't go to his funeral because I wanted to keep everything I experienced with him to myself and I didn't want to be seen in front of everyone. I didn't want to be there while they took him away, to be seen on TV with sunglasses. I decided to do something else, to organize something with his son, I took my bouquet of flowers and we went to the cemetery. It's my choice, it can be understood or not but that's how I am. And I'm sorry for the criticism, as long as I'm criticized for leaving Cagliari I can accept it, but this hurt me».

Football and psychology

"We have made important steps forward in these years. Before, the footballer was seen as a hero, someone who couldn't have problems. Now it's easier to open up and make your emotional state clear, even with a post. The head does a lot. In the year of the championship I wasn't performing due to personal issues, it was a time when I didn't have much passion for football, it had just become a job. I have never turned to psychologists, I have a wife with whom I can talk about everything and I also spoke to teammates and friends, who helped me get over that moment, telling me I was strong. Then came the goal against Napoli and I started doing better again."

What if the passion wanes? "Yes, it becomes hard to do the retreat, the training, the races. And if it happens to you at 26 like it happened to me, it's a problem. I was a little scared by this fact."

(Unioneonline/L)

© Riproduzione riservata