The Spanish newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo' revealed that Italian defender Alessandro Bastoni is an exception reflecting the crisis faced by the Italian national team in recent times, especially after the third consecutive absence from the World Cup, indicating a structural decline in Italian football.

According to the report, Italian football is going through a difficult phase, as the elimination against Bosnia in the playoffs confirmed the continued absence from the World Cup, alongside the significant decline of Italian clubs in the Champions League, with no team reaching the quarter-finals, and only Atalanta making it to the round of 16.

The report pointed out that the increasing interest in Bastoni's transfer from Inter Milan to Barcelona represents an exceptional case that might reflect this decline, particularly as the arrival of an Italian player to one of the major European leagues outside the local league has become rare in recent years.

The report explained that the latest Italian national team list showed that only three players are active at the highest levels of European leagues outside Italy: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Calafiori, and Sandro Tonali, amidst a clear absence of Italian presence at the European summit.

The newspaper added that the situation does not seem better in the rest of the major leagues, where the percentage of Italian players abroad has significantly decreased, while the English league clearly excels in attracting foreign players compared to other leagues.

The report also conveyed statements from former player Jürgen Klinsmann, who confirmed that Italy suffers from a lack of leadership and skilled, confident players, noting that players like Lamine Yamal and Jamal Musiala might have started their careers in Italy's second division to gain experience.

The report also touched on the impact of the playing style in the Italian league, where Osasuna's coach explained that most clubs' reliance on the 3-5-2 formation contributed to the absence of players capable of dribbling and making a difference, with the defensive approach remaining dominant in many teams.

The report also noted that the percentage of foreign players in the Italian league is extremely high, reflecting a crisis in producing local talents, which also extends to youth teams, confirming that the problem is structural and includes the future as well.

The report confirmed that Bastoni's potential move to Barcelona will not just be a defensive deal, but will symbolize a rare exception in Italian football, especially since the Catalan club has only witnessed a limited number of Italian players in its history, the last being Gianluca Zambrotta, who succeeded in leaving a clear mark during his time with the team.