Inter central midfielder Nicolo Barella has revealed that his childhood football idol was always former Inter central midfielder Dejan Stankovovic.

“It was always Stankovic, he filled my eyes with his goals and his technique. I liked to believe I could get close to him. I grew up in Gigi Riva’s football school.

“I met him when I was 16 and it was a great moment,” he explained in an interview with Inter’s official matchday programme ahead of tomorrow’s match at home to Napoli.

Barella then went on to speak about his play style: “Goals are perhaps the thing that are remembered the most, it is something exciting but I get satisfaction from getting in front of goal and passing the ball.

“I am very competitive, the extra push is always given to me and I never want to lose. I am always looking to win. I have always tried to give everything on the field.”

Barella then revealed who one of his best teammates is: “We are a good group. Brozovic is among the nicest teammates, he’s funny and he’s a particular type of person.”

As with all players who are interviewed for the matchday programme, Barella concluded by naming a five a side team made up of historic Inter players: “In goals, Julio Cesar, the dream catcher of the Triplete. Materazzi: Matrix, grit and heart, he lent me his shirt number.

“Maicon, colossus, the strongest right-back I’ve seen. Stankovic, childhood idol, power and precision and Ronaldo, the strongest in history.”

The 23-year-old Italian national team player is 18 months into his spell with Inter and during his time with the club he has went from strength to strength.

Since joining the club, Barella has made 58 appearances across all competitions to date, in which he has scored five goals and provided 13 assists for his teammates.