Real Madrid Pursue Alessandro Bastoni For Mourinho’s Squad

Real Madrid are gearing up for pre‑season and Jose Mourinho is looking to lock down key additions. The Portuguese manager has flagged a centre‑back and a central midfielder as priorities, with the defensive slot now dominated by a left‑footed target. Reports from Italy indicate that the club will contact Inter Milan this week to explore a move for Alessandro Bastoni, who has emerged as the leading candidate to shore up the back line.

Real Madrid Set sights on Alessandro Bastoni

The Madrid side will approach Inter Milan this week to gauge the Serie A champions’ willingness to negotiate. Real Madrid intend to learn Inter’s asking price early in the process, aiming to seal the deal quickly if the Italians signal openness. The move is driven by the club’s need for a left‑footed centre‑back to complement the current crop of right‑footed defenders.

Real Madrid want Bastoni. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Bastoni’s desire pushes deal forward

The Italian international prefers a move to the Santiago Bernabéu, a factor that works in Madrid’s favour. Inter have tried to keep him by offering a contract extension and a salary boost, but Bastoni has rejected the proposal. reports also suggest the 27‑year‑old has turned down other clubs that showed interest.

His left‑footed profile and 1.90‑metre stature align with Mourinho’s tactical blueprint for a balanced defensive unit. Inter value Bastoni at around €65 million, matching his current market rating, though he reached €80 million last season.

Mourinho’s tactical need for a left‑footed centre‑back

Real’s back line is currently dominated by right‑footed defenders, prompting Mourinho to target a left‑footed centre‑back. The club’s recent signings—Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella—highlight a shift toward a more versatile back four. Adding Bastoni would bring a left‑footed presence that Mourinho believes will improve the squad’s balance.

Mourinho sees Bastoni as the ideal fit. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Financials and squad balancing

Inter’s valuation of €65 million sits just below Bastoni’s peak €80 million price from last season. Should the transfer happen, Real would need to trim their defensive roster to stay within squad limits. Currently the first‑team defence counts 11 players—two right‑backs, four left‑backs and five centre‑backs.

Adding Bastoni would raise that total to 12 defenders, including six central options: Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Konate, Dean Huijsen and Raul Asencio. To accommodate the new signing, the club expects to offload two players, with Fran likely to leave the left‑back spot and Asencio expected to make way among the centre‑backs.

What happens next?

The coming week will see Real Madrid open dialogue with Inter Milan, seeking clarity on both interest and price. If Inter’s stance softens, Madrid could move swiftly to finalize Bastoni’s acquisition. Meanwhile, Mourinho will continue to monitor the midfield market as he builds his pre‑season squad.