Spanish newspaper Marca has reported that Real Madrid will shift their transfer focus toward signing Inter Milan center-back Alessandro Bastoni, following a specific request from manager Jose Mourinho.
The “Special One” is determined to recruit a left-footed central defender. While Nico Schlotterbeck was initially his top choice, the severe injury he sustained with the Germany national team during the World Cup has ruled him out of contention.
According to the latest report, Bastoni has now become Real Madrid’s primary target, and the Italian international is highly receptive to the prospect of moving to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Bastoni had previously been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona. However, the financial constraints at Camp Nou forced the Catalan club to abandon their pursuit and prioritize attacking options for the time being.
Now, Real Madrid enters the frame, banking on their strong relationship with Inter Milan’s management to finalize the deal. Negotiations between the two clubs are not expected to be overly complicated.
The Nerazzurri are open to selling Bastoni to generate a significant capital gain that will help rebuild their squad this summer. They are reportedly willing to part ways with the 25-year-old for a fee of €60 million.
Real Madrid has no objections to paying this amount for one of the best defenders in the world, viewing the transfer as a valuable long-term investment that will secure the Bernabéu’s backline for years to come.
It is worth noting that Real Madrid has already signed Ibrahima Konaté on a free transfer, adding to a defensive roster that includes Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rüdiger, and Éder Militão. Nevertheless, Mourinho insists on signing another center-back due to the injury plagues that have haunted his German and Brazilian stars in recent years.
