He is usually the one receiving cheers from the stands at San Siro, but on an October afternoon, the roles were reversed. From the stands of the Allianz Cloud, Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella became a special supporter, cheering on another Italian international: Marco Cassetta, who had recently been called up to represent Italy at the World Cup in Qatar. The padel player took to the court alongside his friend Fabián Oviedo. The pair took to the court for their opening match in the main draw of the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1, facing Javi Barahona and Nacho Piotto in a match that lasted almost two and a half hours and ended in defeat. Barella followed every point closely, making sure to offer his encouragement throughout. “Come on, Marco!” and “¡Vamos, Marco!” were among the shouts heard from the Inter midfielder in the stands.
Barella’s presence, ahead of Inter’s Champions League clash against Club Brugge at San Siro on Tuesday, highlights padel’s growing appeal among top athletes from other sports. The tension on his face during crucial points and the smiles that followed winners by Cassetta and Oviedo perfectly captured his passion for the game. It was a dream afternoon for the footballer, who enjoyed a thrilling show alongside his friends.
Monday afternoon was not Barella’s first appearance alongside the stars of the padel world. Last year, before joining the Italian national team’s training camp in Coverciano, Barella exchanged an Italy shirt bearing a special message – “To El Lobo, with respect and admiration” – for Juan Lebrón’s padel racket. In 2024, he had already been among the football stars who attended the event at the Allianz Cloud to enjoy the spectacle of world-class padel.