Italian national team manager Roberto Mancini has sang the praises of Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni following his third appearance for the Italian national team in their 2-0 UEFA Nations League away win to Bosnia & Herzegovina last night.

Bastoni was not originally in the Italy squad for this international break but due to injuries, the former Atalanta player was called into the squad and has been ever present for the Azzurri and not looked out of place either in his first three games for the senior national team.

“Bastoni is a young boy who has played three games in ten days this week, playing better and better,” Mancini, who formerly managed Inter, explained to Italian broadcaster Rai Sport, following the match in Sarajevo.

“He is very young, he can improve a lot and become the new Bonucci or Chiellini, a great defender. There are many good players, you have to let them play.”

Bastoni had his first team breakthrough at Inter last season and has continued his good performances into this season and has firmly cemented himself as one of the best young defenders on the planet right now.

This season the 21-year-old has made seven appearances across all competitions to date, in which he has tallied one assist.