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Inter Milan president Giuseppe Marotta addressed the swirling rumors linking star center back Alessandro Bastoni to Barcelona. While he made clear the club feels no obligation to sell the defender, he stopped short of completely ruling out a potential exit.
Bastoni has been connected to Barcelona for quite some time, with reports even suggesting that preliminary discussions between the Spanish club and the player's representatives over contract terms have already taken place.
With speculation continuing to mount and the summer transfer window drawing closer, Marotta recently weighed in on the matter.
"Bastoni is a valuable asset for Inter and for Italian football as a whole," Marotta said, via Mundo Deportivo. "That's how we view him. I've seen reports suggesting his departure is practically inevitable, but that simply isn't true.
"That said, as with any other player, these are matters we'll deal with when the time comes," Marotta added, leaving room for interpretation.
Still No Talks Between Barcelona, Inter Over Bastoni
Despite the relentless speculation surrounding Barcelona's pursuit of Bastoni, no formal negotiations between the two clubs have taken place. Reports suggest Inter "would laugh off" a Barça bid of $58.3 million (€50 million) for the 26-year-old defender, according to SPORT.
Per the report, Inter are not opposed to entering talks with Barcelona, but they would first want Bastoni to express his personal desire to make the move — a stance that Barça president Joan Laporta reportedly supports as well.
Regardless, any negotiation would prove challenging for a financially strained Barcelona, particularly given the number of other positions they still need to strengthen in the transfer market.
One factor that could potentially influence Bastoni's decision to leave Serie A is the wave of criticism directed at him by Italian fans following his straight red card for a reckless challenge against Bosnia & Herzegovina — a moment that played a role in Italy failing to qualify for a third straight World Cup.
Inter supporters rallied behind their star defender during this difficult stretch, and Marotta himself was vocal in his backing of Bastoni.
Inter Chief Slams Fans Blaming Bastoni for Italy's World Cup Elimination
Bastoni's dismissal left Italy playing with 10 men for more than an hour in the World Cup playoff final against Bosnia during the March international break. The Azzurri were ahead when he was sent off, but ultimately fell on penalties in a devastating outcome that marked yet another historic low for Italian football.
The Inter defender has faced a torrent of backlash since then, but Marotta came out strongly in his defense when pressed on the issue.
"The way he's being attacked is disgraceful," Marotta said. "As though he committed some unforgivable act. He doesn't deserve to be treated this way.
"Everyone makes mistakes in life, but in Italy we all feel the need to become psychologists and football analysts without truly understanding the kind of person and professional we're talking about. He made an error, but it's completely normal for someone his age to go through an experience like this."
Whether the public backlash Bastoni has faced plays any role in a potential desire to join Barcelona remains purely speculative for now, but the relentless chatter surrounding a possible move to Spain shows no signs of fading as the summer approaches.