The unexpected departure of Íñigo Martínez to Al-Nassr forced Barça to rethink their plan for the defense. The club needs to fill the gap in the central axis with a footballer who can contribute more than what Ronald Araújo offered. Faced with this need, Alessandro Bastoni has emerged as the top target for the summer of 2026.
This 26-year-old Italian center-back meets the ideal requirements. He is a left-footed defender with excellent ball distribution, natural leadership, and international experience. His profile fits the project led by Deco and Flick to build a new, solid, and modern system.
Why Bastoni and not Araújo?
The comparison with Ronald Araújo is not gratuitous. The Uruguayan was a reference for his aggressiveness and physicality, but Bastoni also brings control from the back and game reading. His ability to deliver clean passes and anticipate makes him a more versatile defender for Barça's positional play style.
Bastoni has shown his worth in elite competitions, including his role in Champions League finals with Inter. He has a rising career and already leads the defensive line of the Italian side. That experience on big stages gives him added value for the Catalan project.
Obstacles and opportunities for Barça
The operation will not be easy, because Bastoni has a contract with Inter until 2028. His market value is between €70 and €80 million, which poses a concrete financial challenge.
However, Barça trust that as Bastoni approaches the last two years of his contract, negotiations could become easier. Deco and the sports leadership have already marked him as a priority for 2026. His future availability could optimize the cost or accelerate an agreed departure.
Bastoni, at just 26 years old, represents a perfect balance between future projection and tactical maturity. His career with the Italian national team and his development at Inter back him as a top global center-back. In addition, he has physical and technical attributes that make him an ideal partner for Pau Cubarsí in the center.
That synchronization with Pau Cubarsí will allow Barça to form a long-term, future-oriented backline capable of keeping the possession-based play style from deep. The goal is generational stability and immediate performance with positional intelligence.