With exactly seven days remaining before the official launch of pre-season training at Valdebebas, Florentino Pérez and the sporting management are kicking their summer recruitment drive into hyper-drive. Despite already securing four marquee acquisitions to reshape the squad—headlined by the arrivals of Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella, and Denzel Dumfries—new manager José Mourinho has made it explicitly clear that his defensive structural puzzle is missing its final, definitive piece.
According to an exclusive report originating from journalist Fabio Gatto via SPORT, Real Madrid are preparing to formally launch “Operation Bastoni” this week. The club executives will officially approach Inter Milan to gauge their starting price and evaluate the structural feasibility of a deal, aiming to finalize the transfer as swiftly as humanly possible.
The 27-year-old Italian international center-back has emerged as Mourinho’s undisputed priority target. Crucially, the player himself is highly enthusiastic about a change of scenery and has reportedly put all alternative market enquiries completely on hold with the singular objective of wearing the iconic white shirt next season.
The Technical Puzzle: Seeking Left-Footed Balance
Mourinho’s fixation on Bastoni stems from a fundamental structural deficit within the current first-team center-back dynamics. Real Madrid’s current central defensive choices consist entirely of right-footed profiles.
| Feature | Tactical Matrix |
| Primary Target | Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) |
| Market Valuation | Estimated between €65 million and €70 million |
| Tactical Profile | Elite left-footed ball-playing specialist, deep progressive passing |
| Triggers for Departure | Fran García and Raúl Asencio |
Bastoni represents the rarest elite asset in modern football: a naturally left-footed, highly composed ball-playing center-back capable of operating as a traditional libero or an overlapping defensive catalyst. Last season, the Italian showcased his exceptional tactical toolkit across 40 appearances for Inter, racking up 2 goals and 6 assists—an extraordinary return for a central defender validating his ability to spark transitions from deep areas.
Boardroom Maneuvers: The Contract Rebellion
Real Madrid’s supreme leverage in upcoming negotiations is driven by the player’s direct actions in Milan. Bastoni recently rejected a lucrative contract renewal proposal from the Nerazzurri hierarchy, despite a significant wage increase on the table.
While the relationship between Florentino Pérez and Inter Milan remains incredibly healthy—exemplified by the harmonious discussions that enabled Denzel Dumfries’ switch to Madrid—the Serie A giants will not let their defensive jewel leave easily. Inter are expected to slap a stern €65 million to €70 million valuation on the defender, matching the figure they used to completely deter interest from Barcelona earlier in the year.
The Clearance Operation: 11 Defenders and Counting
For Bastoni to walk into the Bernabéu dressing room, Real Madrid must first streamline a highly congested backline. Following the high-profile departures of Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, and Dani Ceballos, the first-team squad still currently boasts 11 senior defensive options.
The club is actively engineering a double exit to create the necessary registration and financial margin. Left-back Fran García and academy graduate center-back Raúl Asencio have been designated as the prime candidates for a definitive exit this summer, with several European clubs monitoring their availability.
RMxtra Verdict: The Ultimate Foundation for a Title Charge
If Florentino Pérez triggers the capital required to meet Inter’s €65 million valuation, it will be an absolute masterstroke for the Mourinho era. Bastoni isn’t simply a rugged defender; he is an elite playmaker from deep who transforms how a team playing under Mourinho transitions from defence to attack.
With Konaté and Antonio Rüdiger providing the raw physical steel, having Bastoni’s elegant left-footed distribution alongside them offers tactical flexibility that La Liga attackers will struggle to contain. The player wants the move, the manager is demanding it, and the board has the financial muscle—expect this operation to pick up incredible velocity before training kicks off on July 13.