Bastoni Stays At Inter As Marotta Confirms No Request To Leave Amid Barcelona Links

Alessandro Bastoni is set to stay at Inter for the 2025-26 campaign, with president Giuseppe Marotta stating the defender has shown no interest in joining Barcelona. Inter plan to keep the core of the Serie A and Coppa Italia winning squad together, viewing Bastoni as central to that strategy.

Marotta stressed that Inter will not consider selling Bastoni while the player remains content at San Siro. The club chief underlined that contract security, squad stability and the defender’s own wishes all point towards another season in Milan for the Italy international centre-back.

Bastoni is tied to Inter until June 2028, giving the club a strong negotiating position amid long-standing Barcelona interest. The La Liga side have tracked Bastoni for several years, yet current recruitment priorities are in attack as negotiations progress for Anthony Gordon and a potential permanent deal for Marcus Rashford.

Asked if Bastoni was expected to stay by DAZN, Marotta said: "I think so. We, in general, are not a selling club. If a player does leave, it is because he expressed the desire to move on. I have to say that Bastoni has absolutely not expressed the desire to leave. He is happy here, we do not need to sell, so I think he will stay with us. This team has a solid core, a real skeleton in place thanks to players who have been here for a few years. I am talking about Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella and Alessandro Bastoni, for instance. It is important now for them to transmit that winning mentality to the newcomers too."

Bastoni delivered a consistent domestic campaign despite shin and ankle issues limiting availability. The 27-year-old made 28 league appearances in 2025-26 and helped Inter secure eight clean sheets. Opposition forwards only dribbled past Bastoni on 10 occasions, highlighting the defender’s positioning and awareness in Cristian Chivu’s first season in charge.

Within Inter’s league squad, Bastoni finished among the top three for several defensive metrics. The centre-back recorded 23 interceptions, 80 clearances and 52 aerial duels won, reinforcing value on and off the ball. These contributions supported Inter’s balanced approach while competing for both Serie A and Coppa Italia honours.

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The recent double success added another chapter to Inter’s domestic record. The 2025-26 Serie A and Coppa Italia triumphs marked the club’s third such combination, following similar achievements in 2005-06 and the 2009-10 season. Under Jose Mourinho in 2009-10, Inter also lifted the Champions League to complete a historic treble.

For Inter’s leadership, retaining figures like Bastoni, Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella is viewed as crucial to preserving a winning mentality. With Barcelona concentrating on attacking signings and Bastoni content under contract until 2028, every sign currently points towards the defender anchoring Inter’s back line again next season.