The €70M signing that Real Madrid was unable to close

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UEFA Champions League

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Real Madrid Inter Milan

08/09/26 21:00:00

1.57 4.50 5.25

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Alessandro Bastoni, a 27-year-old center-back from Inter Milan, was one of the names that José Mourinho mentioned to Real Madrid's transfers during the last summer transfer window. The deal didn't progress because the Italian club demanded around 70 million euros, and Real Madrid ended up finalizing their defense with other decisions.

The interest was directly related to Mourinho's return to Santiago Bernabéu. The coach wanted to expand the alternatives in the center of defense, and Bastoni was among the candidates evaluated before the market altered the club's initial plans.

🚨 CONFIRMED: José Mourinho wanted Alessandro Bastoni.

Inter wanted at least €70M, while the player was not pushing to leave.

Raúl Asencio’s STAYING also blocked the arrival of a new CB. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/nUNZcWBOil

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 8, 2026

Alessandro Bastoni cost 70 million euros

The main obstacle was economic. Inter Milan set the amount necessary for considering the departure of Alessandro Bastoni at around 70 million euros, a high figure for a position for which Real Madrid had already made moves during the summer.

The Italian club's position was also supported by the player's contractual situation. Bastoni is under contract until 2028, having extended his deal in 2023, so Inter was not obliged to negotiate a sale to prevent him from entering the final year of his contract.

Additionally, the center-back has a significant role in the team. During the 2025/26 season, he played 28 Serie A matches, scored one goal, and provided four assists. At the beginning of the 2026/27 season, he started in the team's first three matches in the Italian championship.

The potential transfer would have brought Bastoni to LaLiga for the first time, but neither party had an immediate need to complete the deal. The player remained in Milan, and Inter retained one of their starters for the new season.

Real Madrid closed the door after signing Konaté

The arrival of Ibrahima Konaté altered the scenario. The French player joined Real Madrid after his spell at Liverpool and occupied one of the spots earmarked for reinforcing Mourinho's defensive line.

The plan could have still included another center-back, but it hinged on a departure. Raúl Asencio was one of the players whose exit could have freed up space in the squad, yet he stayed in Madrid following the end of the transfer window.

This continuity left the white team with Konaté, Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, and Asencio as options for the center of defense. Mourinho concluded the window without adding another specialist for that position, and Alessandro Bastoni was left out of the operation.

By the end of the transfer window, Madrid's squad had 26 players, four more than the 22 Mourinho initially preferred, limiting the scope for further additions.

Bastoni now faces Madrid in the Champions League

The schedule quickly brought the Italian's name back into focus. Alessandro Bastoni arrives at Santiago Bernabéu with Inter to take on the team that considered signing him just a few months earlier, this time in the Champions League.

For Real Madrid, the match provides an opportunity to directly assess a player they had targeted before the start of LaLiga. Meanwhile, Bastoni remains with Inter until 2028, so any future attempts will once again depend on the Italian club's stance and Madrid's defensive availability.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El fichaje de 70M€ que no pudo cerrar el Real Madrid