Barella urges Inter to ‘cling on’ to Lautaro Martinez: ‘We need individuals’ | OneFootball

Nicolo Barella feels that Lautaro Martinez is a ‘point of reference’ for the Inter squad, and has urged his teammates to ‘cling on’ to the Nerazzurri captain during their FIFA Club World Cup campaign coming up this summer.

Barella gave an interview, published on Friday, discussing the upcoming Club World Cup, Inter’s chances of winning it and what they need to do in order to return home from the United States with the trophy and a $125m cash prize.

“It will definitely be a wonderful experience. It’s a new thing, I’ve never played in a Club World Cup before and this is the first in this new format. It’s nice, it will also be one of the first times I get to go to America, because I’ve only been there for a training camp for a few days,” the Italy international said, reported via Sky Sport Italia.

Barella: ‘Inter has the deire to win in its DNA’

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Nicolo Barella celebrates scoring his team’s second goal from the penalty spot with teammates Marcus Thuram, Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan during the Serie A match against Parma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 06, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

There is plenty of confidence around the Nerazzurri camp at the moment. Inter are still in with a chance of winning a treble this season as they lead the Serie A title race, will play rivals Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final, and have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Benjamin Pavard has already claimed that Inter are capable of winning the treble this season, while Barella maintains that there is a winning DNA embedded in Nerazzurri culture.

“As the coach has already said, Inter has the desire to win and lift trophies in its DNA. There are seasons where it goes better, others less well, but our goal is to win and try and lift the trophy in every competition, for us, for our fans and for all of Inter.

“We will go (to America) with the desire to do well. We know that it will be a difficult competition and that it will come after so many different commitments, so there are lots of factors to evaluate, but we want to go there and lift the trophy.”

Barella on Lautaro Martinez: ‘We need individuals, when needed, we will cling onto him’

epa11810265 Lautaro Martinez (L) celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Supercoppa Italiana final match against AC Milan, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 06 January 2025. EPA-EFE/STRINGER

Barella also discussed Lautaro Martinez’s leadership and his importance to the Inter squad during his interview on Friday.

“He is a leader in the dressing room, he’s been here for so many years, he knows what it means to win and to convey what Inter stands for. He’s a point of reference for us all.

“He will become even more (important) because he has been lucky enough to play in a lot of international matches. There are others too, but he is definitely the one who has reached the top. We will need individuals as well as the group in every game, and when needed, we will all cling onto him.”