Alessandro Bastoni is Inter Milan’s wall at the back. In football, some countries have a reputation for having a certain type of player. Brazil has always had players who get you up on your feet, Spain has a reputation for having amazing midfielders, and Italy has no shortage of great defenders.
Italian defenders are some of the greatest players in the game, with Maldini, Baresi, and Fabio Cannavaro coming from Italy. Today, in 2024, it seems as if Italy has produced another elite-level defender.
Over the last few years, Alessandro Bastoni has gained a reputation as one of the best centre-backs in the world. Bastoni is a physical presence with a left-foot wand and can bring the ball out of the back.
Inter Milan’s wall was of interest a few summers ago when Antonio Conte was looking to bring the defender to Tottenham. Alessandro Bastoni was part of the Inter side, which won Serie A three years ago and has been a mainstay on the Italian side. The Italian was also part of the Inter side that got to the Champions League Final.
I will analyse the defender’s game and examine what makes him great.
Alessandro Bastoni: Playing out the back
Bastoni is similar to Manchester City defender John Stones when playing the ball out from the back. Both players are excellent at receiving the ball on the half-turn and advancing play.
Bastoni is fantastic at advancing play and, at times, wanders into midfield. The Italian defender ranks in the 98th percentile for progressive carries and the 93rd percentile for progressive passes. For Inter Milan, Bastoni plays a big part in controlling games, and out of all of Inter’s back three, the Italian is the most progressive.
Inter Milan often deploys a three-at-the-back system, which allows Bastoni to venture forward. When Bastoni ventures forward, there is always cover behind, and this was especially effective when Inter had a very proactive goalkeeper in Andre Onana.
The Italian defender is also left-footed, which allows him to create different angles to dribble and pass the ball. Nowadays, most managers want a right-footed and left-footed centre-back to open up different passing lanes. Alessandro Bastoni is arguably the best left-footed centre-back in the world, and at 25, he will only get better.
Embed from Getty ImagesAggressive defender
As an Italian, Bastoni has the old-school mentality of a defender: defend the goal at all costs. Bastoni is extremely aggressive, and due to his long stature, he can win the ball comfortably. The defender has great situational awareness, whether a winger is running at him or a striker is trying to take a shot off. Bastoni rarely makes the wrong decision.
Standing at 6’3, the Italian, despite the statistics not backing this up, Bastoni is physically in the air. The defender is an aggressive ball attacker when it’s in the air. In some instances, the defender uses his height advantage to win the ball, which proves that the attacker won the aerial duel. This is one reason Bastoni’s aerial duels are only in the 24 percentile. However, few centre forwards cannot cope with the Italian aggression when the defender attacks the ball.
This makes Bastoni suitable for a side that will play in a low block or a side that values possession. If you want Bastoni to act as a sweeper, he can do this, and if you want the defender to carry the ball forward, he can also do that job. Think of Gerad Pique, who can dribble with the ball.
Alessandro Bastoni: Versatility
Football has two types of defenders: sweepers and progressive defenders. For example, when the ball is in the air, some attack it and those who do not engage. A classic example in the beautiful game is Manchester United’s partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. Vidic is seen as the one who attacks the ball, while Ferdinand stays back. The defender who stays back is seen as a sweeper with the pace to chase loose balls.
Bastoni is an exception to this rule. This is partly because he plays in a back three, but it is also down to his attributes. As mentioned, Bastoni is an excellent ball-playing centre-back and solid defensively.
When the ball is in the air, Bastoni’s aggression allows him to be the defender who can attack it. The Italian defender can also act as the sweeper in the defence. Despite not being the quickest, the defender’s long legs allow him to take big strides, which means he can cover the ground quicker.
Having a defender who can do both roles is an asset for any side. This means the Italian can almost play alongside any defender and still play his game. Clubs around Europe will be looking at this type of versatility.
Embed from Getty ImagesUndoubtedly, the Italian defender is one of the best in the world, and at 24, he will only get better. Standing at 6’3, being left-footed and excelling at playing out from the back, the defender is the perfect modern-day defender. With teams paying a premium for defenders nowadays, if Bastoni is to leave in the future, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go for a hefty fee.