Alessandro Bastoni Cavaliere OMRI (born 13 April 1999) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Inter Milan and the Italy national team. Considered one of the best centre-backs in the world, he is known for his well-timed tackles and ball playing ability.
Bastoni received his first call up to the senior Italy squad from manager Roberto Mancini, for the UEFA Nations League matches against Bosnia Herzegovina and Netherlands in September 2020. In June 2021, Bastoni was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020. On 14 June 2022, in Italy's fourth group match of the UEFA Nations League, Bastoni scored his first international goal in a 5–2 away loss to Germany.
A left–footed defender, Bastoni started his career as a full-back, but is also capable of playing as a centre-back, a role in which he became increasingly deployed as his career progressed. He is mainly known for his passing ability and ball control, while his height and ability to exploit spaces allows him to be effective in the air, which makes him a goal threat from indirect set–pieces. Regarded as a promising young player in the media, in 2020, he was included in the list of "Fifty for the future: UEFA.com's ones to watch." |
