Inter Milan has issued a warning to Barcelona regarding their interest in defender Alessandro Bastoni this summer, following Inter’s recent victory in securing the Serie A title over the weekend.
Inter clinched their 21st scudetto with a 2-0 win against Parma on Sunday, achieving the feat with three matches remaining in the season, but focus quickly shifted to Bastoni’s future post-match.
According to ESPN, Barça has been eyeing the Italian international as they seek to reinforce their center-back lineup ahead of the next season.
Despite this rumored interest, Inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio has made it clear that the club intends to retain Bastoni, confirming that no formal approach has come from the Spanish giants.
“I want to reiterate: our aim is to keep Bastoni,” Ausilio stated in an interview with QSVS.
“We are very pleased to have him on our team. Inter won’t initiate contact to offer him elsewhere; he is a significant asset for both Inter and Italy, and we aim to keep him.”
“To emphasize once again: there has been no inquiry for him, and we certainly won’t be making any calls.”
Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta acknowledged that there is attention from Barcelona and other European clubs towards Bastoni but echoed Ausilio’s sentiment, insisting the Serie A champions wish for him to remain.
“While I won’t deny there’s interest from Barcelona, it’s still at a very preliminary stage and not substantial,” Marotta told Radio Rai.
“As we’ve maintained, a player will depart only if they indicate a desire to move on. Currently, he is our player, he wishes to stay, and we are pleased to have him.”
Bastoni, 27, has made 296 appearances for Inter since joining the club from Atalanta in 2017.