Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni believes no one expected them to win the title this season, and explained why he wants to remain at the club and wear the captains armband one day. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Azzurri international talked about the stellar season that Inter have had and why he hopes to remain at the club for many years to come:
You weren’t in Udine. But at home, did you celebrate with the same intensity as your teammates on the field?
“Yes, yes, my daughter was already asleep, and I woke her up with shouts. I knew and we all knew the importance of the result, we wanted to maintain the gap ahead of the second-placed team, the euphoria is explained by that.”
You’ve already won one: what are the differences, for you and for all of Inter, between this Scudetto and the one from 2020-21?
“With Conte, we were already expected from the beginning of the season. This time, no: I don’t remember anyone in the field putting Inter ahead at the start. And let’s be clear: even we didn’t know which men, beyond the players, would join the group. So, the Scudetto would be a nice revenge for us who have integrated the new ones. That’s it, it would be a success for the Inter group.”
Okay, but you talked about the second star since the summer tour. Where did the conviction come from? Istanbul?
“Also, but generally from the entire second half of last season. We also talked among ourselves players, after a bad start, one of the most difficult moments experienced at Inter. From that moment, things changed.”
The first opportunity to sew on the second star will probably be the derby. For the fans, it’s an extra motivation. Is it also for you as a team?
“It’s nice to win the derby regardless of everything, that it could decide the Scudetto is a coincidence. We want the game for ourselves, for the fans, for everything.”
So, five straight wins against Milan weren’t enough?
“Absolutely not. Not even if it were 50 or 100. I would say the same for any other opponent.”
Inter has the concrete possibility of reaching 100 points: does the idea appeal to you?
“Surely yes. But our priority is to sew on the second star, 100 points are not an obsession, and not reaching them would certainly not be a failure.”
Can you tell us how this year’s Inter was born? Why is positional interchange a pleasure and a year ago it wasn’t like that?
“The coach suggested the idea of mobility that we see. But everything originates from the availability and the general mental attitude: if I go on the attack, Lautaro or Mkhitaryan know they have to go on the defense. Everyone defends, everyone attacks: there’s a code we respect, we know what we have to do, and that’s how the Inter you see comes out.”
But who is Bastoni? A center-back? A wing-back? A midfielder? Why is it difficult to identify?
“I feel like what I am at that precise moment on the field. I have a task that changes depending on the position I find myself in. But it’s a way of interpreting football that has involved everyone.”
Bastoni-Dimarco is the best left flank in Europe?
“In terms of understanding, probably yes. I already know the movement he will make, I know how to serve him the ball, there’s a great harmony.”
Do you feel certain that your next future will still be black and blue?
“At the moment, I say yes. And you know why? Every time we play, to get to San Siro, our bus passes in front of a large condominium, where I always see an elderly man waving the Inter flag. He’s fixed there, every time. These are the things that stick with you, I play for this, for the emotions.”
Do you see yourself as captain of Inter sooner or later?
“Yes, I would like that. There’s nothing preventing there being more than one reference, more than one captain. After all, that’s what we’re experiencing: there’s no veteran, Lautaro is still young, on off-field decisions he always talks with the historical core of the team.”
Calhanoglu said he feels he’s in the top 5 in his role. Can you say the same about yourself?
“I don’t have that kind of character, I struggle to talk about myself. But one thing I can say: there aren’t many who play the third defensive role like I do.”
When you read very high praise about you, how does it make you feel?
“It’s nice. I aim to reach as high as possible. But I can still improve a lot: I know where I have more room, also seeing my colleagues, I really like watching the games to understand.”
Who would you like to learn from?
“I focus a lot on the defensive phase, I also think I’ve grown a lot this year. And I saw how Rudiger marked Haaland in the Champions League: I want to imitate him.”
Speaking of matches: how did it feel to watch Atletico Madrid-Borussia? Regrets?
“Yeah, sure. But if we didn’t go through, it means we made a mistake, it’s one more reason to try again next year. The mistake was conceding 1-1 in Madrid right after going ahead. But that’s football…”
But what is missing for Inter to be constantly on par with the greats of Europe?
“The habit of playing those kinds of matches. Before Inzaghi, Inter hadn’t reached the round of 16 for ages. But we’re growing, even here. Think about the fact that we regret the fact of being eliminated in the round of 16 with Atletico, while two years ago it was almost an event to be eliminated by Liverpool: this is already a big change.”
Is it harder to mark Lautaro or Thuram in training?
“Fortunately, they don’t give 100% with us (and laughs, note). I can’t choose: Thuram is more annoying, edgy, Lautaro has enormous quality when defending the ball. I put them on par.”
An opponent who really put you in difficulty?
“Salah. But Higuain even more, for quality and intelligence.”
Beyond the family, name a person you thank for becoming Bastoni.
“I would say Mino Favini: what I am for technique, personality, and ball security, I owe it to him. And then if I can tell you another name, it’s Gianluca Polistina, currently a coach at Monza.”
National team: what has Spalletti brought in addition?
“A strong mentality given by the season made with Napoli. Different ideas on the field compared to Mancini. And new enthusiasm: he made it clear the attachment to the azure shirt, which seemed almost lost.”
Can you win the Euros?
“Yes, we believe. We weren’t even favorites in 2021.”
But do you have a dream?
“The Champions League, it stayed with me. And the Club World Cup, which will be a fascinating competition to play.”
Do you see yourself one day cheering for Inter in the Curva Nord?
“I would like to, I would like it when I stop. In the meantime, I’m passing on the Inter passion to my daughter. She doesn’t chant yet, but you’ll see…”
Is there something you promised to do in case of a Scudetto?
“I didn’t promise anything to anyone…”
Okay, that’s a lie.
“Well, yeah, a bit. Let’s leave the surprise effect, come on…”
