In a candid interview with the FIGC’s official website, Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni shared insights into his personal life, his experiences with the national team, and his aspirations for the future. The 25-year-old, who has emerged as a key figure in both club and international football, discussed the lessons learned from his predecessors and the challenges ahead.
Bastoni emphasized the importance of learning from seasoned players, stating, “I became Alessandro Bastoni by learning a lot from experiences like the European Championship in 2021, where I was behind true icons in my position. Winning the European Championship was the culmination of many sacrifices made since childhood. I had the opportunity to experience it, even if not firsthand, because I had two giants like Chiellini and Bonucci ahead of me, who taught me a lot.”
Reflecting on his early days, he recalled how a chance encounter led him to Atalanta: “I was a very shy and reserved child. I was fortunate that the father of a classmate was a scout for Atalanta; he took me for a trial, and it went well.”
Bastoni also spoke fondly of his father’s influence on his career: “My father always had great qualities in football; perhaps he lacked the mindset. That’s why he didn’t want me to make the same mistakes he did. He joked that he was better than me in terms of quality. After my Serie A debut, I pointed out that he could no longer say that. He has been fundamental in my journey.”
Discussing his interests outside football, he expressed admiration for basketball: “I like the spirit in basketball and how they can also embrace defeat.”
As a modern defender, Bastoni acknowledged the challenges of his role: “A modern defender must have courage and initiative to make plays that can change the game. It’s a difficult position; you can perform well for 89 minutes but make one mistake at the 90th minute, and it seems like you had a disastrous game.”
When asked about individual accolades like the Ballon d’Or, he remained realistic: “The Ballon d’Or? It has never been an ambition for me; realistically, it’s difficult to win it as a defender. My satisfaction comes from contributing to offensive phases while not neglecting defensive duties.”
Bastoni reflected on his youth career: “Starting from Under 15 and reaching here has been a long and winding journey. Many things happened along the way. To a young kid starting now, I would advise them not to give up because I also faced difficulties; there were moments when I didn’t play at Under 16 and Under 17.”
He shared a poignant memory of loss: “My best friend passed away in an accident while I was with the Under 15 National Team; it was my first major blow in life. It made me realize that football is just a game. I always think we should take the positive from experiences, even when there seems to be no positive.”
Bastoni’s perspective on family shifted dramatically after becoming a father: “Becoming a dad was another significant event in my life; it reshaped my priorities. You realize how a loss or bad day can fade into insignificance when you return home to see your daughter and wife.”
Looking back at Italy’s recent struggles in Euro 2024 qualifiers, he took responsibility: “At the European Championship, we had an unhappy chapter; I take responsibility for the group. Perhaps we struggled to understand each other; however, there has been great maturity in this restart in Nations League, and now we are doing great things. Spalletti has a very transparent relationship with everyone; he speaks his mind openly. This is one of his great qualities.”
Finally, Bastoni set clear ambitions for the future: “The mandatory objective is to participate in the World Cup because we haven’t qualified for two editions.”
