Bastoni names best ever defenders: ‘I was first to attack like this’ | OneFootball

Inter star Alessandro Bastoni reveals his favourite defenders in the world, and why he puts himself in that list for one specific skill. ‘I think I was one of the first defenders to be so attacking.’

The Italy international sat down with Alessandro Cattelan for the Supernova podcast and looked back over his career, which took him from the Atalanta youth academy to a loan at Parma and sale to Inter.

Working with Gian Piero Gasperini, Roberto D’Aversa, Antonio Conte and Simone Inzaghi at club level, he has helped revolutionise the role of a defender in the back three, famously providing the assist for fellow centre-back Yann Bisseck’s goal from open play.

“Thanks to the coaches I worked with, I think that I was one of the first defenders to be so attacking,” said Bastoni.

“Having teammates like Henrikh Mkhitaryan who cover my runs forward certainly helps. Rafael Toloi did similar things with Atalanta, but when it comes to interchanging these roles and having this level of mobility, I think I was the first who really interpreted the role this way.

“My characteristics suit that, because I like to have the ball at my feet, which I don’t so much when staying at the back. It comes naturally because I have a coach and teammates who understand what I do, whereas it’s not quite so simple for Italy.”

Bastoni picks his favourite defenders in history

Alessandro Bastoni Riccardo Calafiori Italy anthem

Bastoni was asked which defenders throughout history were the best in various characteristics and specific skills, including himself in there.

Sense of positioning?

“Giorgio Chiellini.”

Anticipating the attacker?

“Fabio Cannavaro.”

Headers?

“Virgil van Dijk.”

Long-range passing?

“Me.”

Goal-scoring sensibility?

“Sergio Ramos.”

Asked to go head-to-head, Bastoni chose Chiellini ahead of Jaap Stam, Stefan de Vrij, Marco Materazzi, Leonardo Bonucci and Carles Puyol, but the Juventus legend did lose the battle with Van Dijk before Sergio Ramos was named his favourite ever defender.

“I will always choose Ramos, I grew up with him.”