Bastoni: '10 years at Inter'

By Football Italia staff

Alessandro Bastoni says he can see himself at Inter for the next 10 years, “with some trophies in the cabinet and maybe the captaincy.”

Bastoni returned to Inter last summer after a loan spell at Parma and has gradually broken into their first team, displacing the vastly-experienced Diego Godin at the back.

“At first I was scared, I was afraid of not being good enough for Inter,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“It wasn’t because of my €31m price tag but rather the expectations of the fans and Conte.

“The coach called me before preseason, telling me not to worry, that if I’m at Inter there’s a reason for it and that I would soon find out. He wanted me.

“After that, I realised that names didn’t matter and that all my teammates were like me, with strengths and weaknesses.”

The 20-year-old was a late tip to make Italy’s Euro 2020 squad before the coronavirus pandemic postponed the tournament until 2021…

“It’s impossible and foolish not to think about the European Championship. The Azzurri shirt is the dream of all Italians, including myself.

“However, my next objective is for Inter: I care about this club and I want to win things here. If we get back to playing, we’re still competing on several fronts to win something this season.

“In 10 years I still see myself at Inter, with some trophies in the cabinet and maybe the captaincy.”

Finally, Bastoni was asked about the defenders he most looked up to growing up.

“My favourite Panini stickers were those of Thiago Silva and [Walter] Samuel. Being a mix between the two wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

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