Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni wants to inherit the mantle of Juventus legends Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci for Italy.
The 25-year-old spoke to Italian broadcaster RAI Sport, via FCInterNews, after yesterday’s Nations League win over Israel with the Azzurri.
Bastoni has been a part of the Italian national team setup for a number of years now.
The Inter defender even won the Euros with Italy in 2021.
However, in his first couple of years with the Azzurri Bastoni did not have a very prominent role.
Rather, the Nerazzurri defender was more of a young understudy.
At the Euros, it was legendary former Juventus duo Chiellini and Bonucci who started for Italy throughout the tournament.
By that point, both were veterans, well into their thirties.
But then-Italy coach Roberto Mancini put his faith in the experience of that duo, as several Italy coaches before him also had.
Bastoni: “I Want To Become Like Chiellini & Bonucci For Italy”
Inevitably, however, Chiellini and Bonucci hung up their boots for the national team.
And after a few years learning and growing, Bastoni was the player who was ready to start to try and fill them.
It certainly is not an easy legacy to inherit. And Bastoni has been feeling his way into the team, still aged only 25.
At the Euros, though, there was no doubt that the Inter defender was Italy’s defensive leader, as he had an outstanding group stage.
Over the international break, meanwhile. Bastoni has only confirmed that impression in Nations League wins over the likes of France and Israel.
Bastoni looked back, saying that “I was behind two sacred cows in Bonucci and Chiellini for a while, working with them in training.”
The Inter defender went on. “I try to pass on the experience they did to me to the younger players.”
