Italy Star Looks Back On Inter Milan Spell: ‘Six Years Here, I’ve Grown A Lot’ | OneFootball

Defender Alessandro Bastoni feels that he has “grown a lot” since joining Inter Milan in the summer of 2019.

The 25-year-old Italian international gave his thoughts on his journey at the Nerazzurri in the matchday programme for today’s derby showdown with AC Milan.

Inter actually signed Bastoni in the summer of 2017.

The Italian international was a player that the Nerazzurri had marked out as a top talent for the future even before he had made his mark in senior football.

Bastoni is one of a long line of players to come out of the production line of Atalanta’s academy.

Inter loaned Bastoni back to Atalanta during the 2017-18 season. And then in the 2018-19 campaign he was on loan at Parma.

It was during that season on loan at Emilia-Romagna that Bastoni really learned what it meant to be a regular starter in Serie A.

And in 2019, Inter decided that Bastoni was ready to play a role in their senior team.

Bastoni was still only nineteen when he became part of the Inter first team setup.

It was during the summer of 2019, the same summer that coach Antonio Conte.

Conte is a coach who is perhaps notorious for preferring veteran players and not always having the patience to give younger players a chance.

Therefore, it may have seemed like Bastoni had little chance to show his qualities under the former Juventus and Chelsea coach.

But Bastoni earned Conte’s trust right away. He was a regular in Inter’s starting eleven in both seasons with Conte as coach.

Alessandro Bastoni: “Six Years At Inter – I’ve Grown A Lot”

Then in 2021, Simone Inzaghi arrived to replace Conte on the Inter bench.

And in each season under the former Lazio boss, Bastoni has only become more crucial to Inter.

Inzaghi seems to have unlocked the very best of the Italian international defender.

“This is my sixth season here,” Bastoni looked back.

“I’ve put a lot of minutes and matches in my legs. And I’ve grown a lot in terms of experience.”

“I hope that I can convey that to my teammates,” Bastoni said. “Because for me, it’s fundamental that the dressing room is united and everyone has that desire to work and give their all for the team.”

“Then winning obviously gives the team that extra boost.”

Bastoni recalled that “My debut with Atalanta gave my a lot of self-belief, and enthusiasm to keep doing what I was doing in my career.”

“Then the first Scudetto I won with Inter was another major step.”

“What brought me here was the strength to overcome difficult moments,” Bastoni said. “Face them with determination and perseverance.”

The 25-year-old mused, “After every storm the sun always comes out, that’s how life works.”

As for the most thrilling and emotional moment he’s experienced in an Inter shirt, Bastoni named “Definitely the derby win that clinched the second star.”

“Winning the Scudetto in the derby like that is a day that will remain in our minds forever,” he said.

“It was an extraordinary and unique achievement.”