“Inter rejects Barcelona’s initial offer for Bastoni.”

Barcelona makes first move for Bastoni, but Inter rejects initial offer of €45 million

The European transfer market is in full swing and Alessandro Bastoni’s name is once again at the center of attention. FC Barcelona has made its first formal bid to secure the services of the Italian defender for the upcoming summer transfer window, presenting an initial offer of €45 million that Inter Milan immediately rejected, deeming it far below the player’s value.

According to sources close to the negotiations, Inter remains firm and demands at least €60 million to release Bastoni, one of the club’s defensive cornerstones and considered a key asset in the squad, despite recent turmoil surrounding the player. Over the past two months, Bastoni has faced a tumultuous period, highlighted by the controversial incident in the Derby d’Italia and his red card during the World Cup playoff, in Italy’s defeat to Bosnia in Zenica.

This is a turning point: for the first time, Alessandro Bastoni himself has shown openness to listening to proposals, a clear sign that Barcelona’s interest is influencing the future of the young defender. Previously, an approach from Chelsea was rejected by both the player and the club, but the Catalan offer seems to have a more serious and sustained appeal.

Barcelona is preparing an enticing contract for Bastoni, with an annual salary of around 7 million euros net — a substantial increase from the current 5 million net he earns at Inter. For the Italian defender, the Catalan club offers not only a higher salary but also the opportunity to embrace a new challenge in a team with ambitions comparable to those of his current club.

Despite the significant gap between Inter’s demands and Barcelona’s initial offer, negotiations are officially open for the first time, according to reports from Sportmediaset. Now, the ball is in the Italian club’s court, which will have to decide whether to maintain the asking price at 60 million or to consider softening its position. On the other hand, Barcelona is aware of its financial limitations and will need to substantially raise its proposal if it truly wants to secure one of the most sought-after defenders in European football.

With the clock ticking and the transfer windows closing in, Alessandro Bastoni’s future is far from decided. What is certain is that this saga promises to be one of the hottest of the summer, with the eyes of millions of fans and analysts fixed on this battle between two giants of football. Who will give in first? The answer could change the fate of one of the best young defenders on the continent.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.