According to Italian media, Barcelona is experiencing disappointment as negotiations for Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni appear to be losing momentum. There are also indications that the financially strained LaLiga club might be better served by focusing on acquiring a new striker rather than a defender.
Why Bastoni’s Move to Barcelona is Becoming Unlikely
For weeks, Spanish and Italian news outlets have linked Barcelona with a summer pursuit of the Italian international Bastoni, who recently celebrated Inter’s 21st Serie A title. Inter’s President, Beppe Marotta, acknowledged the club’s interest, stating, “I won’t deny there is interest from Barcelona (in Bastoni), but nothing concrete yet.”
However, recent reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport suggest that Barcelona’s interest in the left-sided defender is now waning. Several factors contribute to this, but the player’s apparent reluctance to depart San Siro this summer seems to be the most significant. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Inter values Bastoni around €70 million, while Barcelona had hoped to negotiate a lower fee closer to €50 million. This discount would likely have required Bastoni to explicitly express his desire to move to Barcelona, thereby pressuring Inter to sell.
According to the publication, this has not occurred, and Inter has no intention of selling Bastoni at a reduced price. Whether the fee is €50 million or €70 million, it represents a substantial investment for a club still navigating the stringent financial regulations of LaLiga. Barcelona’s recent financial difficulties have limited their permanent signings over the past two seasons to Dani Olmo (€58 million), Joan Garcia (€27 million), and Roony Bardghji (€2 million).
Given that Barcelona has realistically managed only one significant new first-team signing per summer over the last two years, La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that Bastoni might not be the most prudent use of their available transfer funds in the upcoming window. This is particularly true as Barcelona is also likely to need a new striker. With the high-earning Robert Lewandowski, aged 37, expected to leave the club this summer, a significant void will need to be filled at center-forward, which would likely take priority over the acquisition of a “luxury” center-back.