Barcelona given lifeline as Inter president refuses to rule out priority target’s exit: ‘We’ll address this issue later’ | OneFootball

With the summer transfer window approaching, Alessandro Bastoni finds himself at the centre of growing speculation, with Barcelona keeping a close eye on the Italian defender. 

Despite being tied to Inter Milan until 2028, the situation has not gone unnoticed at the highest levels of the club.

Ahead of Inter’s clash against AS Roma, which Inter won 5-2, club president Giuseppe Marotta addressed the swirling rumours. 

While his initial position appeared strong and reassuring, his overall response suggested that nothing in football is ever completely off the table.

What did Marotta say?

Speaking about Bastoni’s importance, Marotta made it clear how highly the club values the 26-year-old. He stated, 

“Bastoni is an asset to Inter and Italian football, and that’s how we see him. 

“I’ve read that it’s almost a given that he’ll leave the club, but that’s not the case. Then, as with all players, these are issues we’ll address later.”

Marotta has defended Bastoni amid the backlash. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

However, the conversation around Bastoni has not been limited to transfer speculation. 

The defender has recently faced criticism in Italy following his red card during the World Cup qualifier against Bosnia, a moment that contributed to Italy national football team missing out on World Cup qualification.

Marotta did not hold back when defending his player from the backlash. He added, 

“The way he’s being vilified is shameful, as if he were guilty of who knows what. He doesn’t deserve that treatment. 

“In life, mistakes are made, but in Italy, we all have to turn into psychologists, into football experts, without knowing what kind of person and professional we’re dealing with. 

“He made a mistake, but it’s normal for someone his age to face something like this,” he concluded.

Source: Mundo Deportivo