Real Madrid Target Alessandro Bastoni as Mourinho Seeks Final Signings

Preseason is a week away at Valdebebas, and Jose Mourinho still does not know exactly what his Real Madrid squad will look like. The summer churn has already started – Dani Ceballos, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba have gone – but the rebuild is incomplete and the clock is ticking.

Four signings are already through the door, yet Mourinho has been clear: he wants another centre-back and a midfielder before the serious work begins. The midfield search has hit early resistance. Options such as Matues Fernandes and Enzo Fernandez have slipped out of reach, leaving Madrid to reassess their shortlist in the most delicate area of the pitch.

At the back, though, the picture is sharper. One name stands out in bold: Alessandro Bastoni.

Bastoni, the chosen piece

According to SPORT, via journalist Fabio Gatto, Real Madrid are preparing to move on Bastoni this week. The plan is simple enough: open talks with Inter Milan, ask for their stance on a sale, and discover the starting price for one of Serie A’s standout defenders. Madrid want this operation wrapped up quickly, before preseason rhythms harden and tactical plans are locked in.

Inter will not let him go cheaply. As Serie A champions, they are expected to value the Italian at around €65 million, a figure that reflects both his quality and his importance to Simone Inzaghi’s system. But the player’s own intentions are pushing the story forward.

Bastoni is ready for a change of scenery. He has set his sights on playing for Real Madrid and underlined that ambition by turning down a contract renewal from Inter that included a pay rise. When a defender of his calibre rejects improved terms from the reigning champions, it sends a clear message: his future, in his mind, lies elsewhere.

A left foot for a crowded backline

From Madrid’s perspective, Bastoni is not just another defender. He fills a specific tactical need. Mourinho wants a left-footed centre-back to balance a group dominated by right-footers, someone comfortable stepping out with the ball and defending the wide spaces that modern football constantly exposes.

On paper, he fits perfectly. On the squad list, it is more complicated.

Real Madrid already have 11 defenders under contract. To bring Bastoni in, space must be created. The club is working on at least two exits from the backline: one centre-back and one left-back. Fran Garcia and Raul Asencio have emerged as the leading candidates to make way, potential departures that would ease both the sporting congestion and the wage bill.

The strategy is clear. Trim the fat, reshape the unit, and give Mourinho a defence built to his specifications rather than one inherited and patched together.

A decisive week ahead

All of this unfolds with the preseason countdown almost at zero. Mourinho will want clarity before the first serious sessions begin. Inter will want to know whether they are planning a title defence with or without their left-sided rock. Bastoni, for his part, has already shown where his heart is leaning.

Real Madrid have identified their man. Now they have to prove how badly they want him.