Inter central defender Alessandro Bastoni has revealed that he and teammates never feared that Inter manager Antonio Conte would leave the club.

After a public outburst following Inter’s Serie A season finale against Atalanta, Conte’s future as manager of the club was thrown right up in the air and weeks of intense speculation followed but after meeting with club management and club president Steven Zhang it was decided that Conte would continue to manage the club.

“We were never  afraid that he would leave us,” Bastoni explained in a press conference today which was held at the Italian national team’s training camp.

“We have been united in our criticisms, along the journey in the Europa League we have shown that we are a group. Let’s leave the chatter off the pitch, I’m happy to continue the journey,”

The youngster who is involved with the full Italian national team for the first time was then asked what similarities there are between national team coach Roberto Mancini and Conte.

“I’m getting to know Mancini and I have noticed the same ability to make you feel within a group and to treat everyone in the same way which is a great merit.”

In conclusion he was asked whether he feels better playing in a three man defence or a four man defence.

“I started with a three man defence with Gasperini at Atalanta, then I grew a lot in Parma in a four man defense and this year I went back to playing in a three.

“Personally, I like them both. Here in the national team, when we are building-up, we are going to three at the back and I think this is the ideal way for me but I repeat I also felt good in the four man line.”

In the 2019/20 season, Bastoni made 33 appearances across all competitions, in which he scored two goals and provided a single assist.