Italian defender Alessandro Bastoni faced widespread criticism from the media and fans after Italy's national team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs following a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decisive match ended the Azzurri's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

The match witnessed a significant turning point with Bastoni's expulsion in the 41st minute, forcing Italy to play with ten men throughout the second half and extra time, despite leading at the time of the expulsion, which many considered a major reason for the collapse against the Bosnian team.

According to the Spanish newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo,' Bastoni, who is a primary target for Barcelona to strengthen the left center-back position, might see the Catalan club benefit from the negative atmosphere surrounding him in Italy to facilitate his signing in the coming period.

Italian newspapers harshly criticized the incident, with 'La Gazzetta dello Sport' headlining on its website: 'Bastoni, and a Disastrous 2026,' pointing to his performance in the match, while 'Tutto Sport' considered him one of the main culprits for the elimination, and 'Corriere dello Sport' described the expulsion as naive.

The criticism was not limited to the media but extended to social media, where the player faced significant backlash from fans, prompting him and his wife to restrict comments on their accounts after receiving thousands of messages containing insults and harsh criticism, with over 13,000 comments on his latest post.

The same newspaper also noted that Bastoni had previously faced criticism from Inter fans after causing the expulsion of player Kalulu during the Inter vs. Juventus match on February 15, which has increased the pressure on him recently.

In a related context, the Spanish newspaper explained that Barcelona believes they can sign Bastoni for an amount ranging between 55 and 60 million euros, especially given the current situation, which might lead the player to consider a new experience outside Italy.

The report pointed to the difficult psychological state Bastoni appeared to be in after the match, as he left the field looking dejected, with his head down and occupied with his mobile phone, reflecting the extent of his frustration and potentially opening the door for his departure, as Barcelona eagerly awaits any opportunity to finalize the deal.