Mourinho makes Bastoni top defensive target
Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has identified Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni as the profile he “covets most” to complete a wholesale defensive rebuild, according to Spanish daily AS. The Italy international has emerged as the Portuguese coach’s priority despite an already extensive summer recruitment drive at the Bernabéu.
Inter, however, have set a non-negotiable valuation of €70 million for the 25-year-old centre-back. The Serie A club previously rejected an approach from Barcelona for Bastoni and maintain that they will not sit down to negotiate with any club unwilling to meet their asking price.
Busy summer at the Bernabéu
Mourinho has already overseen the arrivals of Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries—the latter prised directly from Inter earlier in the transfer window. These signings represent a significant overhaul of the Madrid defence, yet the manager remains convinced that Bastoni is essential to completing his tactical setup.
Real Madrid initially targeted Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck as their final defensive addition. When negotiations for the German international hit the buffers, the club circled back to Bastoni, a name that had surfaced early in the window during a turbulent period for Inter at the conclusion of last season.
Inter’s firm stance
The Nerazzurri have demonstrated their resolve by shutting down Barcelona’s earlier interest, and sources indicate they will adopt the same approach with Madrid unless the €70m valuation is satisfied. This creates a dilemma for the Spanish giants, who have already committed substantial funds to defensive reinforcements this summer.
The coming weeks will determine whether Mourinho can persuade the Madrid hierarchy to sanction another major outlay. With Inter showing no signs of compromising on their valuation, the transfer hinges entirely on whether Real Madrid are prepared to meet the Serie A club’s demands in full.