Reports from Italy suggest that Barcelona is expressing ‘disappointment’ as a potential transfer for Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni appears to be losing momentum. Simultaneously, there are indications that the financially strained LaLiga club should focus on acquiring a new striker rather than another defender.
Why Bastoni’s Move to Barcelona is Becoming Unlikely
For several weeks, Spanish and Italian media have been linking Barcelona with a summer move for Italian international Bastoni, who recently celebrated Inter’s 21st Serie A title.
Inter President Beppe Marotta acknowledged the interest, stating, “I won’t deny there is interest from Barcelona (in Bastoni), but nothing concrete yet.”
However, recent updates from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that Barcelona’s pursuit of the left-sided defender is now waning. Several factors contribute to this, most notably the player’s apparent reluctance to leave San Siro this summer.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Inter values Bastoni around €70 million. Barcelona, however, had hoped to negotiate a lower fee closer to €50 million. Such a discount would have likely required Bastoni to explicitly signal his desire to join Barcelona, thereby pressuring Inter into a sale.
This has not occurred, and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter has no intention of selling Bastoni at a reduced price.
Whether the fee is €50 million or €70 million, it represents a significant investment for a club still grappling with the impact of LaLiga’s strict financial regulations. Due to recent financial difficulties, Barcelona has only managed a few permanent signings in the last two seasons, including Dani Olmo for €58 million, Joan Garcia for €27 million, and youngster Roony Bardghji for €2 million.
Given that Barcelona has effectively made only one new first-team signing per summer over the past two years, La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that Bastoni might not be the most prudent use of their available funds in the upcoming transfer window.
This is because Barcelona is likely in need of a new striker. The high-earning Robert Lewandowski, aged 37, is expected to depart the club this summer, leaving Hansi Flick with a significant void to fill at center-forward. Securing a striker is now considered a higher priority for Barcelona than acquiring a new central defender.