Alessandro Bastoni

Alessandro Bastoni Cavaliere OMRI (born 13 April 1999) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Inter Milan and the Italy national team. Known for his well-timed tackles and ball playing ability, he is considered to be one of the best centre-backs in the world.[2]

Alessandro Bastoni
Bastoni in 2021
Personal information
Full name Alessandro Bastoni[1]
Date of birth (1999-04-13) 13 April 1999
Place of birth Casalmaggiore, Italy
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Inter Milan
Number 95
Youth career
Cannatese
2006–2016 Atalanta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Atalanta 3 (0)
2017– Inter Milan 125 (3)
2017–2018 → Atalanta (loan) 4 (0)
2018–2019 → Parma (loan) 24 (1)
International career‡
2014 Italy U15 7 (0)
2014–2015 Italy U16 15 (1)
2015–2016 Italy U17 17 (0)
2016 Italy U18 3 (0)
2017–2018 Italy U19 9 (2)
2018–2019 Italy U21 12 (1)
2020– Italy 21 (1)
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Italy
UEFA European Championship
Winner2020 Europe
UEFA Nations League
Third place2021 Italy
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Runner-up2022 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 October 2023

Early career

Bastoni was born in Casalmaggiore, Lombardy, and began his career in the local Rivarolo Mantovano youth side, where his father was coach.[3] At the age of 7, he joined the youth side of Serie A club Atalanta.

Club career

Atalanta

Bastoni progressed through various age groups at Bergamo, including making nearly 30 appearances for the under-17 side, before eventually progressing to the Primavera side, where he established himself as a regular starter at the centre of defence. He was named on the first-team bench for the first time on 30 October 2016, for the game against Genoa, and made his full debut a month later in the Coppa Italia game against Pescara, playing the full game in a 3–0 victory.[4] In Serie A, Bastoni remained as an unused substitute for the six games after Genoa until making his debut in a 1–0 win over Sampdoria on 22 January 2017, playing full 90 minutes.[5]

Inter Milan

On 31 August 2017, Inter Milan announced the signing of Bastoni for €31 million,[6] and on the same day, his loan at Atalanta for the next two seasons.[7] Inter officially recalled defender Alessandro Bastoni early from his loan with Atalanta and renewed his contract until 2023 on 14 July 2018.[8]

Loan to Parma

On 7 August 2018, Bastoni joined Parma on loan until 30 June 2019.[9] He made his debut on 7 October 2018, in the league match won 3–1 away against Genoa.

International career

Bastoni has been capped by Italy at every level from U15 to U19. His first international goal came in a 4–0 win over Norway whilst playing for the under-16 team. He was first called up to the under-18 side by coach Paolo Nicolato in August 2016,[10] and was made captain in his second game; a 2–2 draw with the Netherlands. He was called up to the Italy under-19 side by coach Paolo Nicolato on 9 August 2017 at the age of 18.

He made his debut with the Italy U21 team on 11 October 2018, in a friendly match lost 1–0 against Belgium. He became immediately a starter and he took part in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship on home soil.[11]

Bastoni received his first call up to the senior Italy squad from manager Roberto Mancini, for the UEFA Nations League matches against Bosnia Herzegovina and Netherlands in September 2020.[12] He made his senior debut for Italy on 11 November, starting in a 4–0 friendly win against Estonia in Florence.[13][14][15]

In June 2021, Bastoni was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020.[16] He made his first and only appearance of the tournament in Italy's final group match, starting in a 1–0 victory against Wales in Rome on 20 June; the result allowed them to top their group.[17] On 11 July, Bastoni won the European Championship with Italy following a 3–2 penalty shoot-out victory over England at Wembley Stadium in the final, after a 1–1 draw in extra-time.[18]

On 14 June 2022, in Italy's fourth group match of the UEFA Nations League, Bastoni scored his first international goal in a 5–2 away loss to Germany.[19]

Style of play

A left–footed defender, Bastoni started his career as a full-back, but is also capable of playing as a centre-back, a role in which he became increasingly deployed as his career progressed. He is mainly known for his passing ability and ball control, while his height and ability to exploit spaces allows him to be effective in the air, which makes him a goal threat from indirect set–pieces.[15][20][21][22] Regarded as a promising young player in the media, in 2020, he was included in the list of "Fifty for the future: UEFA.com's ones to watch."[23][24]

Personal life

Bastoni's father, Nicola, was also a footballer, who played as a left–back for Cremonese.[25] On 6 October 2020, it was announced that Bastoni tested positive for COVID-19, while being asymptomatic, amid its pandemic in Italy.[26] On January 21, 2022, his long-time partner gave birth to a daughter, who was named Azzurra.[27]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 24 October 2023[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coppa Italia Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atalanta 2016–17 Serie A 3010––40
Atalanta (loan) 2017–18 Serie A 401000–50
Total 702000–90
Parma (loan) 2018–19 Serie A 24100––241
Inter Milan 2019–20 Serie A 252305[lower-alpha 1]0–332
2020–21 330206[lower-alpha 2]0–410
2021–22 311408[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0441
2022–23 2904012[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0460
2023–24 70003[lower-alpha 2]000100
Total 1253130340201744
Career total 1564150340202075
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana

International
As of match played 17 October 2023[28]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Italy 202030
202160
202281
202340
Total211
Italy score listed first, score column indicates score after each Bastoni goal.[28]
List of international goals scored by Alessandro Bastoni
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 June 2022Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany15 Germany2–52–52022–23 UEFA Nations League A

Honours

Inter Milan

Italy

Individual

Orders

References
  1. "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 109" [Official Statement No. 109] (PDF) (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 22 December 2016. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  2. "The 25 best centre backs in world football - ranked". 90min. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  3. "Alessandro Bastoni, Pregiata Oreficeria Atalanta" (in Italian). Alfredo Pedulla. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  4. "Atalanta vs. Pescara 3-0". Soccerway. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  5. "Atalanta vs. Sampdoria 1-0". Soccerway. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  6. "Transfer news: Inter paid €31m for Bastoni". calciomercato.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  7. "Alessandro Bastoni All'Inter Ma Nerazzurro Fino Al 30 Giugno 2019" [Alessandro Bastoni At Inter But Black & Blue Until 30 June 2019] (in Italian). Atalanta B.C. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  8. "Alessandro Bastoni renews with Inter until 2023". Inter Milan. 14 July 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  9. "Ufficale: Parma, tris d'acquisti dall'Inter: Biabiany, Dimarco e Bastoni" (in Italian). Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  10. "Italy U-18s: 22 Azzurrini Called Up For Slovenia Friendly on 11th August". FIGC. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  11. "Parte l'avventura europea: Di Biagio ufficializza la lista dei 23 Azzurrini" (in Italian). FIGC.it. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  12. "Trentasette convocati per le gare con Bosnia e Paesi Bassi, prima chiamata per Bastoni, Locatelli e Caputo" (in Italian). Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  13. "A Grifo brace and goals from Bernardeschi and Orsolini secure a comfortable win against Estonia". www.figc.it. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  14. "Italy vs. Estonia - Football Match Report - November 11, 2020 - ESPN". ESPN.com. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  15. "Italy 4-0 Estonia: Grifo lights up experimental Azzurri". www.football-italia.net. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  16. "Mancini names uncapped striker Raspadori in final Italy Euro 2020 squad". Reuters. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  17. Pritchard, Dafydd (20 June 2021). "Wales in last 16 despite defeat in Rome". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  18. McNulty, Phil (11 July 2021). "England lose shootout in Euro 2020 final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  19. "Germania-Italia: altro pasticcio di Donnarumma, il gol non salva Bastoni. Le pagelle azzurre". tuttosport.com (in Italian). 15 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  20. Fusi, Flavio (20 October 2017). "L'erede della scuola difensiva italiana: intervista a Bastoni" (in Italian). L'Ultimo Uomo. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  21. Todisco, Mattia (11 July 2019). "TS - Bastoni unico mancino tra i centrali: resta e va a scuola dai "professori"" (in Italian). FC Inter News. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  22. Morabito, Andrea (10 March 2019). "D'Aversa elogia Bastoni: "Giocatore importante, è molto bravo nel gioco aereo"" (in Italian). FC Inter News. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  23. "Fifty for the future: UEFA.com's ones to watch". UEFA.com. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  24. "Uefa, tra i 50 giovani più promettenti l'unico italiano è Bastoni. Presenti anche Kulusevski e Leao" (in Italian). www.eurosport.com. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  25. Spini, Matteo (24 January 2017). "Atalanta, la storia di Bastoni e Melegoni: debuttanti grazie a Gasperini". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  26. "COMUNICATO UFFICIALE DI FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO" (Press release) (in Italian). 6 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  27. Greco, Giuseppe (21 January 2022). "Fiocco rosa in casa Inter: è nata la figlia di Alessandro Bastoni".
  28. "Alessandro Bastoni". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  29. "Inter end Juventus' Serie A dominance with first title in 11 years". ESPN. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  30. Mackenzie, Alasdair (24 May 2023). "Fiorentina 1-2 Inter Milan - Lautaro Martinez scores double as the Nerazzurri defend Coppa Italia". Eurosport. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  31. "AC Milan 0-3 Inter Milan: Simone Inzaghi's side ease to Supercoppa win over rivals to defend title". Eurosport. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  32. McNulty, Phil (10 June 2023). "Man City beat Inter Milan 1–0 in Champions League final to claim Treble". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  33. "Italy 2-1 Belgium: Azzurri secure third place at Nations League finals". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 10 October 2021. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  34. "Lukaku, Ronaldo and Conte win Serie A awards for 2020-21". Football Italia. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  35. "2022/23 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  36. "Mattarella ha conferito onorificenze motu proprio ai giocatori e allo staff della Nazionale vincitrice del campionato europeo" (in Italian). quirinale.it. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
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