Bastoni open to listening to Barcelona

Inter defender Bastoni remains open to Barcelona approach but wants assurance from manager Flick after failed deal last summer.

Barcelona targeted Alessandro Bastoni last January as their priority centre-back signing. Sporting director Deco agreed terms through 2031, but the deal was shelved when manager Hansi Flick declined to approve it in May, preferring to convert Gerard Martín to centre-back and strengthen other areas instead.

Now, five months on, Barcelona are again searching for a central defender and Bastoni remains on Deco's list. The 27-year-old Inter captain is not closing the door to a move and is willing to listen to any approach from the Catalan club. However, he was deeply disappointed by last summer's rejection and has learned from the experience.

Bastoni is content at Inter, where he is one of the captains, earns one of the squad's highest salaries, and has a contract until 2028. If Barcelona want to sign him, he now requires concrete proof that he is a priority not just for Deco but also for Flick. Before any move, Bastoni would want to speak directly with the German manager to hear his intentions firsthand.