Turnaround – Under-Fire Inter Star Set to Stay Amid Barcelona Interest | OneFootball

The future of Inter center-back Alessandro Bastoni remains one of the major talking points in Serie A heading into the summer. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 26-year-old could stay at San Siro despite growing interest from Barcelona.

Alessandro Bastoni has emerged as one of Barcelona’s top targets for the upcoming transfer window. Indeed, Hansi Flick has identified the former Atalanta man as a perfect upgrade on his current defensive options. After failing to find a suitable replacement for Inigo Martinez last summer, they are now eager to bring Bastoni to Camp Nou.

However, Los Blaugranas’ financial turmoil is well-documented. Meanwhile, Inter are reluctant to sell their long-serving stalwart for less than €70 million, especially considering his contract runs until 2028. Therefore, the back-to-back La Liga champions are considering including several players as a makeweight to reduce Inter’s mammoth asking price.

Furthermore, Bastoni’s current situation in Serie A has bolstered Barcelona’s belief that they could lure him to the Iberian Peninsula in the summer. After his antics in February’s Derby d’Italia against Juventus, he has become one of the most unpopular figures in the country.

The situation worsened in March’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bosnia & Herzegovina, as Bastoni received a straight red card, helping the Dragons eliminate Italy in the playoffs. Despite those setbacks, the Nerazzurri defender could stay at the club beyond the summer.

What’s changed?

Inter’s first domestic double since 2010 has made Cristian Chivu the first foreign manager since Jose Mourinho to win the Scudetto. Moreover, the club’s impressive results this season could deter Bastoni from leaving San Siro, even though he has fallen out of favor with the Serie A fans.

His sale would significantly bolster Inter’s bank accounts. However, replacing a player of Bastoni’s quality would be an arduous task. As such, his stay would be a win-win situation for both parties.