Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella has cemented himself as one of the finest midfielders on the planet, and Luca Cigarini feels he had an important role to play in this regard.

As a native of Sardinia, the 27-year-old naturally started his playing career at Cagliari. But while the then-youngster was making his first steps in professional football, he crossed paths with Cigarini who was already on the opposite end of his playing career.

The 38-year-old rose to prominence during his early years at Parma. While he went on to represent the likes of Atalanta, Napoli and Sampdoria, he never quite fulfilled his early promise.

Nevertheless, the veteran decided to bet on his younger teammate at the time when they were sharing the locker room at Cagliari. And based on Barella’s current exploits, this wager turned out to be almost as rewarding as playing online games at Casino Jet4Bet, which features 10000+ pokies and live dealer games in New Zealand.

But while Barella is now considered one of the most complete midfielders in the sport, Cigarini recalls a time when he was still a raw talent struggling to keep his emotions in check.

Luca Cigarini Reveals How He Scolded Inter Milan Star Nicolo Barella

Nicolo Barella Inter Milan
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Nicolo’ Barella of FC Internazionale looks on during the Coppa Italia, Quarter Final match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 25, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Therefore, the experienced player pats himself on the back for making the Sardinian a better player. He even reveals how he had to take scold him on some occasions to make to ‘rough him up’.

“We had a match against Milan and we were losing 2-0, and he didn’t know how to handle himself,” explained the current Reggiana player in his interview with Cronache di spogliatoio (via FcInterNews) amidst Giuseppe Rossi’s testimonial.

“The next match, we had to go to Crotone for what was a direct relegation showdown. He was already on a yellow card. So I told him to stay calm, that the others were stronger, do not screw up. However, he got a second yellow and the referee sent him off.

“So he was suspended against Crotone, we won anyway. However, I gave him a good telling off.

“Now he’s an international player. It’s crazy when you think about it. I’ve roughed him up a bit.

“He was in the early years of Serie A. You could see he had a little more going for him, which he still has today.

“We’re very good friends, we talk often. We spoke before the game. We have a beautiful friendship which we forged over the years. It was nice to raise him when he was young.’