Tardelli shares Barella advice from World Cup winner | OneFootball

Italy legend Marco Tardelli believes Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella is simply tired and gives him the same advice that he received from World Cup winning coach Enzo Bearzot.

Barella is meant to be one of the core members of the Azzurri midfield, but has been struggling for form and confidence recently, both at club and international level.

He has received support from Calcio icon Tardelli, the man whose scream of celebration was the symbol of the 1982 World Cup triumph.

Tardelli recognises Barella struggle

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 04: Nicolo Barella of Internazionale warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Cremonese at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 04, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“You can’t always be at 100 per cent, there are seasons and moments that are more difficult,” Tardelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“It happened to me too. Physical and emotional fatigue, you never quite know why, but three negative months don’t change an entire career.

“You just need to have patience and remember what Bearzot told me in Argentina.”

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Curtis Jones of Liverpool controls the ball whilst under pressure from Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale Milano during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro on December 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

While Bearzot was the coach who won the 1982 World Cup, he was already in charge for the 1978 tournament in Argentina, when Italy reached what was effectively the semi-final, albeit in an unusual format.

“I will never forget it, in May 1978 I was falling to bits, I couldn’t even manage the easiest things,” explained Tardelli.

“Bearzot substituted me during a friendly before the World Cup in Argentina. I was so depressed, told him I understood if he no longer had faith in me, so he should leave me out.

“Instead, he replied straight away: ‘Marco, don’t talk rubbish. If you can’t manage anything else, then pass it to your teammate.’ What he meant was, just do the simple things, don’t try to over-do it.

“It all went well, that team was perhaps better than the one that took the World Cup in 1982.”

ROME, ITALY – JUNE 17: The Italian former player ‘Azzurri Legends’ Marco Tardelli attends a interview during ‘Casa Azzurri’ at pratibus district on June 17, 2021 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Tardelli has more advice for Barella, a player who has often been compared to the Nazionale legend.

“If I was Inter, I’d give him a month of just pure vacation. That’s enough to recharge the batteries.”

Italy still need to get into the 2026 World Cup, via Tuesday’s play-off final with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“I am sure we’ll get there, because Bosnia are not as good as Italy,” added Tardelli.

“Even if our team isn’t that strong, I get the feeling we’ll do well. I already felt it in 1982 and in 2006, because when there is pessimism and everything seems to be going against us, that’s when we react.”