Transfer news: Bastoni to Barça – a deal that suits everyone?

A mainstay at Inter Milan for the past seven years, Alessandro Bastoni could be set to leave this summer. The Lombardy-based club is counting on selling the centre-back to boost its coffers. FC Barcelona is hoping to capitalise on this.

Season after season, and despite the relative lack of attention paid to him, Alessandro Bastoni has established himself as a reliable and indispensable centre-back in Inter Milan’s 3-5-2 formation. However, at almost 27, the Italian could be ready to take the next step in his career.

Inter plan to sell Bastoni

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Tuesday that the Lombardy-based club are looking to sell a high-value player from their squad to bring fresh funds into the club’s coffers – which could then be reinvested. Marcus Thuram was initially mentioned as one of the players likely to leave in order to recoup a tidy sum, but according to the sports daily, it is Bastoni that Inter are hoping to sell.

His attributes are certainly appealing: a highly experienced player, in his prime more than ever, technically very comfortable, with a remarkable ability to get forward down the left flank and a burst of pace… the archetype of the modern centre-back, despite the odd dip in form from time to time.

Inter are demanding €50 million

Where might the 2021 European champion end up? There aren’t that many clubs likely to sign him. The Italian international’s wages (€5 million a year) and his growing unpopularity beyond the Alps (notably due to his theatrics to get Pierre Kalulu unfairly sent off during a match against Juventus) make a transfer within Serie A itself virtually impossible.

The club furthest ahead in the race so far is FC Barcelona, which has already made enquiries about Bastoni. The Catalan side has been warned about the fee involved: the Nerazzurri will demand €50 million to release the player from the final two years of his contract. However, English clubs could also express their interest in the coming weeks. In any case, Bastoni’s future lies away from Milan.