Real Madrid are reportedly considering a double raid on Inter Milan for UEFA Euro 2020 winning duo Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Real Madrid seem to be finally stepping up their efforts to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window slams shut. To that end, the Spanish giants have turned their attention towards Inter Milan, with Italian duo Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella being viewed as key targets.
Inter Milan would have hoped to go from strength to strength after ending Juventus’ hegemony at the top of Italian football by winning the Serie A title last season. However, almost immediately post the high of that triumph, a cruel reality has set in, with the Nerazzurri’s financial troubles forcing them to already cash in on two of the architects of that win – Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku.
Things do not seem to be getting any easier for the reigning Serie A champions, with several other players on their roster also emerging as top targets for some of the biggest clubs across Europe. Two such players are Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella, both of whom are being courted by Real Madrid.
Both Bastoni and Barella have taken their respective careers to the next level since joining Inter Milan, and are pivotal figures for the Italian giants now. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that a European bigwig like Real Madrid would be hot on the trails of the UEFA Euro 2020 winning duo.
As far as Bastoni is concerned, the interest from Real Madrid is understandable, considering their two first-choice defenders – Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane – have both departed the club this summer. In their stead, only David Alaba has come in to the first-team squad.
So, although Eder Militao is tipped to become a first-choice centre-back this summer, it is also important to note that there is very little quality beyond him and Nacho. To that end, Bastoni is a viable target for Real Madrid, who can have a long-term solution at the back in the form of the 22-year-old.
As for Barella, he, too, has been heavily linked with the Merengues in recent times. Los Blancos do indeed need to be in the market for a midfielder as well, seeing as Luka Modric is fast approaching the end of his glittering career, despite hardly slowing down in the last couple of seasons. Further, Toni Kroos is on the wrong side of 30 and nearing the final phase of his Real Madrid career.
As a result, Real Madrid have been linked with a number of midfielders, including Mateus Cunha, Leon Goretzka and Eduardo Camavinga, with Barella certainly an option worth considering. What now remains to be seen is if Real Madrid launch the offensive for Bastoni and Barella anytime soon, capitalising on the precarious situation that Inter Milan find themselves in.
