In a recent print edition, Corriere dello Sport has claimed that Manchester City are set to go all out for Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni this summer. It is believed that Man City boss Pep Guardiola is preparing to ‘do anything’ to bring the Italian youngster to the Etihad Stadium at the end of this campaign (translated and transcripted by Sport Witness).
Bastoni’s Impressive Season In Italian Football This Season
Bastoni has experienced a solid season at San Siro as he has produced several impressive displays at the heart of Antonio Conte’s defence. The Italian prospect has featured in 41 matches for the Italian outfit this term, securing four assists in the process across multiple competitions.
The 22-year-old has proven his worth as a valuable contributor on the defensive end of the field based on his average of 1.1 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.2 clearances per game in this Serie A campaign. He has even been accurate when distributing possession from the back after completing 90.5% of his attempted passes in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
The way Bastoni has been playing this season, it is no surprise that a top club like Man City are eager to acquire his services when the transfer window commences next month. His important contributions in defence have helped Antonio Conte’s side win the Serie A title this season. At 22, the Inter youngster could grow into a world-class player in his position someday, so Guardiola will fancy getting the best out of him if he can agree on a fee to bring him to the northwest of England this summer.
Should Man City Get Bastoni On Board This Summer?
Bastoni can make some well-timed tackles to win the ball back for his team. He is proficient at reading the danger quickly and is not shy of putting his foot through the ball when outnumbered by the opposition inside his half.
The Italian defensive ace is an accurate passer of the ball but needs to work on improving his upper-body strength if he plans to be a success story in Premier League football. Hence, it makes a lot of sense for Man City to get Bastoni on board in this off-season.
The Inter whizkid is in for a very bright future in European football and would inject even more quality to Man City’s backline in the coming seasons. He is a left-footed centre-half, so he would also add more natural balance to Guardiola’s senior team. Plus, he is good enough to serve as an upgrade over Eric Garcia who is set to join Barcelona at the end of this campaign.
