Manchester United will reportedly compete with Real Madrid and Manchester City in the race to sign Alessandro Bastoni.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Erik ten Hag wants to bring Alessandro Bastoni to Manchester United in 2023. The 23-year-old Inter Milan defender is also a target for other European bigwigs, including Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Alessandro Bastoni has established himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A since becoming a regular for Inter Milan. The Italian international came to the fore under Antonio Conte, and he has gone from strength in the last few years.
The 23-year-old has turned out 130 times thus far for Inter Milan, chipping in with three goals and ten assists. And his exploits have also earned him a regular berth in the Italian national squad. At the same time, Bastoni’s performances have captured the attention of Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Manchester United.
The interest from Real Madrid is somewhat perplexing, considering they have signed a centre-back in each of the last three summer transfer windows. But with Nacho yet to agree to a new deal, Los Blancos might have to invest in a central defender. Bastoni has thus emerged as a viable target for Real Madrid, with the Spanish club also showing interest in his teammate Milan Skrinar.
Meanwhile, Manchester City brought in a centre-back by signing Manuel Akanji in the summer transfer window. So it is unclear how Bastoni might fit in the scheme of things at the Etihad. Nonetheless, it looks like the Italian centre-back features on Manchester City’s radar. Meanwhile, Manchester United will battle Manchester City and Real Madrid for the 23-year-old.
Like Manchester City, it is not clear why Manchester United will look to sign Bastoni. Lisandro Martinez has settled down quickly at Old Trafford, forging a solid central defensive partnership. So Manchester United will not really require another left-footed, especially when the player is of the Italian international’s calibre.
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Like Real Madrid, Bastoni’s Inter Milan teammate Milan Skriniar is on Manchester United’s radar. It will be interesting to see if Bastoni becomes a top target for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Manchester City in the coming year.
