A little less than a week ago, Jose Mourinho signed with Real Madrid. “In his first round as a manager, he failed to win the Champions League, the desire to actually do it with Real Madrid is said to have been one of his motivations for taking the job.
There will be shopping this summer and the strategy seems to be to go after the players that La Liga champions Barcelona want for the second time in a row.
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The Madrid club continues to hijack signings from the Catalans in this transfer window – Bernardo Silva, Dumfries, Cucurella… And now comes number four.
Alessandro Bastoni has become the new big name in Real Madrid’s aggressive transfer market. Once again, the Whites have turned their attention to a player who was also high on FC Barcelona’s wish list. The Italian centre-back, one of the mainstays of Inter Milan, now appears to be a real option to bolster José Mourinho’s defence.
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The move fits perfectly into the White Club’s strategy: to go after top profiles, accelerate complicated operations and outmanoeuvre their direct competitors. After securing Marc Cucurella, pushing for Bernardo Silva and showing interest in Julián Álvarez, Florentino Pérez has now opened a serious channel in Italy.
Alessandro Bastoni – a €70 million operation for Real Madrid
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Real Madrid and Inter Milan have already held high-level talks to explore a potential deal for Alessandro Bastoni. The starting price is clear: 70 million euros.
This amount previously scared away FC Barcelona, who saw the Italian defender as an ideal piece to strengthen their defense. Bastoni, 27 years old, with a contract until 2028 and a market value close to 65 million euros, puts Inter in a very strong negotiating position.
The first contact is said to have taken place during a legends event between the clubs. There, Florentino Pérez and Beppe Marotta discussed Denzel Dumfries – who is likely to go to Madrid for €20 million – as well as the situation surrounding the left-footed centre-back.
FC Barcelona sees Bastoni’s hand slip away
For a long time, FC Barcelona had followed Alessandro Bastoni as a defensive priority. His profile was a perfect fit because of his age, leadership skills, ball skills, and European experience. In addition, the player himself looked at a transfer to Camp Nou with positive eyes.
Real Madrid’s entry now changes everything. The white club has greater financial room for manoeuvre and can also include a player in the deal to reduce the cash component. This formula could be crucial if Inter Milan maintain their pricing.
Barcelona are deeply concerned that a goal they have been working on for months could end up with their eternal rival. That would be a significant sporting loss and a huge market blow.
Mourinho to choose between Bastoni and Rúben Dias
The final decision lies with José Mourinho. The Portuguese coach already has Konaté as a right-back and Rüdiger extended, but he is looking for a new high-profile piece. This is where Bastoni comes in – although he is not the only candidate.
Rúben Dias’ name has also been considered by the club’s sports management. The Manchester City defender is highly valued for his leadership and experience, but the price tag could be more complex. Therefore, Bastoni is becoming increasingly important – not least because he is naturally left-footed.
Inter Milan are not planning to give up their centre-back
Inter Milan’s attitude is rock hard. Bastoni is a beloved player among fans and crucial to the project, but a sale for tens of millions of euros would finance two or three new signings. The Italian club will only consider a sufficiently good offer.
The player himself will also play a crucial role. In the past, he turned down offers from the Premier League, and his preference seemed to point towards Barça – but the new scenario could make him reconsider his plans.
Alessandro Bastoni is now at the center of a market battle with many dimensions. For Real Madrid: a high-profile signing and a strategic masterstroke. For Barcelona: a painful loss. For Inter: a difficult sale – but perhaps crucial to reshaping the squad.
