Alessandro Bastoni Told to Leave Italy After World Cup Qualifier Fallout as Barcelona Transfer Links Grow
Ben McAleer
Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni has been told he may have to quit Italy following the Azzurri’s doomed World Cup qualifying campaign.
The 2006 World Cup winners missed out on a spot in this summer’s showpiece event after falling to a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in midweek.
Bastoni received his marching orders in the loss earlier this week for a last-man foul on Amar Memic after Moise Kean had fired Gennaro Gattuso’s side in front.
Bastoni has endured tumultuous 2026
It caps what has been a poor start to the calendar year for the 26-year-old, whose simulation in the Derby d’Italia saw Juventus centre-back Pierre Kalulu dismissed.
Bastoni was seen celebrating the decision and was widely criticised as a result.
The Inter defender was booed during the Nerazzurri’s 2-0 win at Lecce, while his family also received death threats following the incident in the 3-2 home triumph over the Old Lady.
Now, former Inter and Italy legend Giuseppe Bergomi has insisted that Bastoni may now need to quit Italian football in order to rescue his career.
Bastoni 'will have to leave Italy'
"What have we put this guy through?” Bergomi told Radio Nerazzurra. "He's a friend, I see him every now and then at basketball games, I love him dearly.
"The mistake was in the pipeline, what has he been through for a month and a half? They've told him everything.
"Now this guy, for his own good, will have to leave Italy and we're losing an extraordinary talent, one of the best defenders in modern football, he too has his strengths and weaknesses.
"I understand he made a mistake, but enough, guys. I'm so sorry, even for Inter, but I think for his own good he'll have to find a place abroad, look what I'm saying."
Barcelona monitoring Inter star
Bastoni has been linked with a move to Barcelona this summer, with the La Liga champions looking to bring in another centre-back at the end of the season.
Hansi Flick’s side are also keeping tabs on Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, whose current Cherries deal expires later this year.
