News Focus
- FC Barcelona have ended their pursuit of Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni
- The Italy international prefers to remain at San Siro following the club’s Serie A triumph
- Inter Milan demand €70 million, but Barcelona hoped to negotiate a lower fee of €50 million
- The Catalan club face strict spending limits under La Liga’s financial fair play regulations
- Italian media suggest Barcelona should prioritise signing a striker instead of a defender
FC Barcelona are reportedly disappointed that a deal to sign Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni has collapsed. The Catalan giants have been forced to abandon their interest in the Italy international. However, sources suggest the club should focus their limited budget on buying a new striker rather than a centre-half.
Media outlets in Spain and Italy have linked Barcelona with the 25-year-old for several weeks. Bastoni recently played a key role as Inter secured their 21st Serie A championship.
Inter president Beppe Marotta recently confirmed the interest, stating: “I won’t deny there is interest from Barcelona, but nothing concrete yet.” Now, reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that Barcelona’s pursuit is fading.
The primary obstacle is the player’s loyalty. Bastoni does not wish to leave San Siro this summer. Inter value the defender at approximately €70 million, but Barcelona had believed they could secure him for €50 million. To force a lower price, they needed the player to demand a transfer. This has not occurred, and Inter refuse to sell at a discount.
Barcelona continue to struggle with severe financial difficulties. La Liga’s strict economic controls restrict their spending power. Over the past two seasons, the club has completed only three permanent signings: Dani Olmo for €58 million, Joan Garcia for €27 million, and Roony Bardghji for €2 million. This averages roughly one new first-team arrival per summer.
Given these constraints, Italian newspapers argue that investing €50 million or €70 million in Bastoni would be unwise. The funds would be better spent on a new forward to strengthen the attack.