Manchester City now want to sign Inter Milan No.95 Alessandro Bastoni – who has been compared to Paolo Maldini.
That is according to Calciomercato.
So, who compared Manchester City target Alessandro Bastoni to Paolo Maldini? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, it was football agent Alessandro Tullio Tinti who made the claim about the Italy international.
As quoted by Show Sport, he said: “Bastoni has a great future. I have not seen a single player who, at his age, would have played at this level, unless it’s Maldini.”
Lofty praise indeed.
Calciomercato believe Chelsea are planning to rival Manchester City for Bastoni at the end of the season, with Inter Milan happy to sell for a sum of €70m (£61m).
The 24-year-old has developed into a vital player at the San Siro after arriving from Atalanta in 2017.
Bastoni has made 173 appearances in total for Inter Milan, winning one Serie A title, the Coppa Italia on two occasions, and also two Supercoppa Italiana successes.
Alessandro Bastoni to Manchester City suggests Guardiola wants someone gone
Hearing that Manchester City want to sign another central defender was certainly an interesting development, as Pep Guardiola already has a number of options in that department.
The treble winners can choose from John Stones, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake or Manuel Akanji in the centre of defence.
Therefore, it is strange for Guardiola to want another central defender – unless the Spaniard is planning to offload someone.
Gvardiol has only just arrived, so the Croatia international is surely here to stay.
Furthermore, Stones and Dias are key men for Guardiola, so the only question marks are surrounding Akanji and Ake, both of whom have looked vulnerable at times so far this season.
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Manchester City take a look at Bastoni.
