The management is far from sure that the Blaugrana can satisfy the Nerazzurri’s requests of 70 million. The goal of the Nerazzurri club, however, is “
Between doubts and certainties, the mystery surrounding the Bastoni situation deepens at Inter. Because if on the one hand Barcelona’s strong interest is clear, on the other the Nerazzurri management is far from certain that the financial situation of the Catalan club can allow the Blaugrana to eliminate the gap between supply and demand. In this sense, the first clear and direct message was delivered by the club’s sporting director, Piero Ausilio: “Bastoni has a contract with Inter and today there are no situations that would make him think that he is far from here. I don’t know what they say in Spain, but we are happy with what Bastoni has given to Inter and we are sure that he will still give a lot. If someone is interested in him, knows the telephone numbers and therefore has to do this, he must not speak.” A half broadside, then. A message that can be summed up in a half-slogan: less talk, more facts. And enough of market games aimed at lowering the price that Inter demands for their defender. The Nerazzurri management has clear ideas, it does not intend to “fall for” the pressure that has increased from Catalonia in recent days and has set a clear price for giving up Bastoni: 70 million.
I return close, then…
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The evaluation, moreover, appears in line with the transfer market these days, in which especially defenders capable of building play as well as destroying the opponent’s play pay a high price. It is clear that, then, negotiations can also be built through painstaking mediation work. And therefore it is also possible that the 70 million requested by Inter will be reduced at least a little as the weeks go by. But even if they became a figure between 50 and 60 million – perhaps with the inclusion of a technical compensation -, Inter’s doubts about Barcelona’s economic possibilities would persist: can Laporta really deliver such a high offer from the Viale della Liberazione area? Time will answer. Meanwhile, Bastoni is (almost) ready to regain his status as the team’s mainstay after a couple of matches in which the team responded well even without him, with a clear 3-0 win over Cagliari in the league and Como overturned in the semi-final of the Italian Cup. It is probable that the defender will be called up for the away match in Turin scheduled for Sunday, while in the worst-case scenario Bastoni will be available again for what could become the championship match, a week later at San Siro against Parma. In any case, the atmosphere will be festive. The future, full of doubts. Like Inter’s one regarding Barça’s real financial possibilities.