Inter and Italy star Bastoni the best ball-playing defender in Europe | OneFootball

Stats highlight that Inter and Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni is currently the best ball-playing defender in Europe with three assists, 75 long passes completed and 185 touches in the final third.

Inter star Bastoni is currently the best ball-playing defender in Europe, according to stats published by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The 25-year-old provided his third assist this season on Saturday, contributing to Inter’s 5-0 win over Hellas Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi.

Inter and Italy star Bastoni is the best ball-playing defender in Europe

LEIPZIG, GERMANY – JUNE 24: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy has a headed shot as Dominik Livakovic of Croatia looks on during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Croatia and Italy at Football Stadium Leipzig on June 24, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Only another Serie A defender, Empoli’s Sebastiano Luperto, has provided as many assists in league games this season.

Bastoni, however, shines in every other field for a ball-playing defender.

The expected assist average per game is 0.8, more than any other centre-back in Europe. Bastoni also has the most long passes completed (75), touches in the final third (185) and progressive passes, 69 in 12 matches (2.8 per game on average). Napoli’s Amir Rrahmani is the closest competitor in Europe with 43 progressive passes this term.

Bastoni has made 15 appearances across all competitions with Inter this season.

He made his Italy debut in 2020 and has played 33 games with the Azzurri.