Barcelona don dey plan for summer transfer window, and dem dey target Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni as one of dia main priorities. According to reports from Sport, di Catalan club dey admire di Italian centre-back well well, and dem see am as perfect fit for dia system. Bastoni, wey get contract with Inter until 2028, dey valued around £51 million (€60 million), and Barcelona don already hold meeting with im agent wey show interest for move to Catalonia.
For striker position, Barcelona dey eye Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid as long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski. But di deal dey complicated because Atletico no wan sell am to Barcelona, and dem dey demand over £68 million (€80 million). If Barcelona no fit meet dat price, dem get Plan B for Omar Marmoush from Manchester City, wey dem fit get for around £43 million.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano don confirm say Bastoni remain Barcelona top defensive target. Di club see am as world-class defender wey fit play ball from back, and im left-footed style go fit replace Inigo Martinez wey leave last summer. Barcelona sporting director Deco don travel to Milan several times for dis matter, but negotiation with Inter never start proper. Bastoni sef don hear about Barcelona interest, and im dey open to move.
Meanwhile, for Italy national team side, di Azzurri dey prepare for important World Cup qualification play-off match against Northern Ireland. Di match go hold on Thursday 26 April at Stadio di Bergamo, and di winner go qualify for final against winner of Wales vs Bosnia match. Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso dey monitor im players at Coverciano training ground.
Good news dey for Italy camp as Alessandro Bastoni dey recover from injury and fit play for di crucial match. Sandro Tonali and Gianluca Mancini dey make good progress sef and fit join full training soon. Di team dey calm and focused for di big game, according to reports from di training ground.
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, wey dey in Italy squad, talk say di team need to focus on demselves instead of worry about Northern Ireland. Im say: “At such a delicate time, di key na to live for present, enjoy di moment and stick together as team. We know di importance of dis match, but we must remain as calm as possible.”
For penalty matters, Italy dey prepare in case di match go reach penalty shootout. Dutch referee Danny Makkelie go officiate di match, with Spanish official Jesús Gil Manzano as fourth official. Former Italy striker Antonio Di Natale don compare young forward Pio Esposito to legendary striker Marco van Basten, saying im movement dey remind am of di Dutch great.
Italy probable line-up for di match na 3-5-2 formation with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, Mancini, Bastoni (or Giorgio Scalvini), and Calafiori for defence. Midfield go feature Matteo Politano (or Marco Palestra), Nicolò Barella, Manuel Locatelli, Tonali, and Federico Dimarco. Attack go likely feature Moise Kean (or Esposito) and Mateo Retegui.
Di whole transfer matter for Bastoni go depend on Barcelona financial situation and negotiation with Inter Milan. Di Catalan club dey face economic challenges, but dem dey determined to strengthen dia defence for next season. As summer dey approach, football fans dey wait see how dis transfer saga go end, and whether Italy fit qualify for 2026 World Cup.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
