Bastoni wanted to leave Inter but Conte ‘convinced’ him to stay

Alessandro Bastoni reveals he wanted to leave Inter when he arrived in 2019, but Antonio Conte convinced him to stay and now the Italy defender doesn’t see himself elsewhere.

Bastoni was the latest guest on Andrea Ranocchia’s podcast ‘Frog Talks’ and revealed he wanted to leave the Nerazzurri in 2019 when he first moved to the Stadio Meazza.

Inter had signed Bastoni in a €31m deal from Atalata in 2018 but the Italian defender spent one season on loan at Parma before joining the Nerazzurri at the Stadio Meazza.

“I spent one season at Parma and then I was lucky to find Antonio Conte here,” Bastoni said as quoted by fcinter1908.  

“I pushed to leave that season because they had just signed Diego Godin and they already had Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij. I had played 25 games at Parma, a good season, but the level was different. However, Conte insisted and convinced me to stay.”

Conte spent two seasons at Inter, winning the Serie A title in 2020-21. Bastoni got regular playing time in his first season at the Stadio Meazza under the Italian tactician, scoring two goals in 33 appearances across all competitions.

“Barella and I talk about it once in a while. We struggled so much, but we were so in shape that, in the end, we always recovered,” said Bastoni.

“Simone Inzaghi has found a perfect group. We think as a team. We learned so much from players like you [Ranocchia], Marcelo Brozovic and Samir Handanovic.”

Bastoni’s contract with the Nerazzurri runs out in June 2028 and the Italian centre-back is no longer considering leaving the club.

“I am happy here now. I am one of the most ‘experienced’ players. The Inter world is amazing, and I don’t see myself elsewhere at the moment. I truly feel at home,” he said.

“We play in front of 75,000 fans, and when we go to the stadium, I see 85-90-year-old people in the crowd waiting for the team bus. The passion these people have makes me think: ‘Why should I leave when I can offer a moment of joy?’ I have no doubts, we are a nice group with young players like myself, Barella, Dimarco and Lautaro.”