Nerazzurri Defender Alessandro Bastoni: “Happy I Stayed At Inter Despite Tottenham Interest, Hope Milan Skriniar Stays” | OneFootball

Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni feels that he made the right decision to remain at the Nerazzurri despite the interest of Tottenham Hotspur.

Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews, the 23-year-old also expressed the hope that Milan Skriniar decides to stay and extend his contract as well.

Bastoni has always have suitors among Europe’s top clubs.

The former Parma and Atalanta defender has grown into a top defender since joining the Nerazzurri.

However, Bastoni has tended to give signals that he is perfectly happy at Inter.

Some of the strongest interest in signing the 23-year-old came from Tottenham Hotspur this summer, where former Nerazzurri coach Antonio Conte was very keen to reunite with him.

However, it was reported at the time that after the Nerazzurri spoke to Bastoni’s agent, it was made clear that the player did not wish to leave in a big money sale to the Premier League.

Of the interest from Tottenham, Bastoni stated that “There had been some contact, but I’m happy that I stayed.”

Of his teammate Skriniar, Bastoni said that “I can only advise him to do what he thinks is right.”

“We’re all adults and everyone has to make his own assessments, together with his family.”

“The important thing is that he makes a final decision that he’s fully convinced of,” Bastoni said of his teammate.

“It’s not for me to judge, but I hope he stays,” he added.

Of how the Nerazzurri put the setback of their loss to Udinese in September, probably their lowest point of the season so far, behind them, Bastoni said that “We relied on the solidity and strength of the group.”

“We regrouped, knowing that we could only get out of the situation we were in if we stayed united and strong.”

Bastoni noted that “We spoke with each other, we tried to identify the problems, and even now we’re trying to solve them permanently.”

Looking ahead to Inter’s match against Napoli next month, the 23-year-old said that “It’s certainly a major crossroads in the title race.”

“Not bringing home a positive result would be a tough blow,” he went on.

“If that happened, it would become very difficult to make up the gap.”

Asked whether playing in a back three gets the best out of him, Bastoni replied “Certainly, because then I have the possibility of pushing forward, without having excessive concern about what happens if I make a mistake.”

“I feel that my back is covered, and I have more freedom.”

On the difference between playing with Ivan Perisic, Federico Dimarco, and Robin Gosens on the left flank, Bastoni explained that “The quality of a footballer partly lies in knowing how to change how he plays depending on who’s playing alongside him.”

“For example, Dimarco has great quality in crossing, so he prefers to receive the ball to feet.”

“Gosens, on the other hand, attacks the space in behind and likes having a ball to run onto.”

And asked about the differences between playing under Antonio Conte, Simone Inzaghi, and Roberto Mancini, Dimarco explained that “Under Conte, you went out on the pitch knowing perfectly what you had to do, because everything had been meticulously studied.”

“The other two are very similar in terms of how they prepare for matches, their attitude on the pitch, and how they approach matches,” he continued

“Both of them are very calm and open to dialogue,” Bastoni said, comparing Inzaghi and Mancini.

“I can add that, in terms of my style of play, Inzaghi has given me a lot, because the tendency to move up the pitch on the wing was something that he added.”