Real Madrid Moves to Secure Bastoni Deal

Real Madrid has begun steps to sign Italian defender Alessandro Bastoni as part of their strategy to bolster the defense ahead of the new season under coach José Mourinho, who has also requested a midfielder.

According to Spanish newspaper "Sport," Real Madrid will contact Inter Milan this week to assess their stance on selling the player, paving the way for negotiations if the Italian club agrees.

Real Madrid is banking on Bastoni's desire for a new challenge, as the Italian defender turned down an offer to extend his contract with Inter until 2028 and has also rejected interest from other clubs. Italian reports suggest that his preferred destination is the Spanish giants.

The club is looking for a left-back, making the 27-year-old Bastoni the ideal candidate to strengthen the backline alongside Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Marc Cucurella. The report indicates that Inter has set the player's value at €65 million.

If the deal goes through, Real Madrid will need to reduce their number of defenders, which would rise to 12 players in the backline, necessitating the departure of at least two players to restore balance to the squad.

The report highlights Fran García as the most likely candidate to leave the left-back position, while Raúl Asensio could depart from central defense if Real Madrid successfully completes the Bastoni deal, with the possibility of including a buy-back clause for the players in the future.