Barcelona would be open to replace Jordi Alba with Inter Alessandro Bastoni, but the Spanish left-back does not want to move away.
Alba still has three years left on his current contract, but it is believed that the Catalan club wants to move one of its highest earners earlier in an attempt to reduce its huge salary costs.
The 32-year-old has played 385 times for Barcelona and despite his age, there would be no shortage of suitors for the hill who has proved to be one of Europe’s very best since he switched Valencia to Camp Nou in 2012.
Initially reported by Mundo Deportivo and confirmed by ESPN, Inter is one of a number of clubs that have shown interest in the defender.
⚫️? ESPN habla of Alessandro Bastoni admitting the interests of Inter av Jordi Alba
Bar️ El Barça has very good information but in May renovated 2024 https://t.co/U8p16dbyAs
– Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo) June 24, 2021
Barcelona are also said to be huge fans of Inter Bastoni, and the only way they could afford a deal would be to use Alba as a makewight.
However, they add that a source close to the left-back has insisted that he does not intend to leave Barça.
After finishing third in La Liga last season, it is clear that Barcelona’s squad needs to be improved, but the club’s financial problems have forced them to get creative in the transfer market. Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay have all come up with free offers this summer.
But if they are to renew Lionel Messi’s contract, further cuts must be made and there is still a lot of work to be done behind the scenes. Alba may not intend to leave right now, but with Inter in the market for a left-back after Ashley Young’s recent death and Barcelona’s need to release funds, a move away for the 32-year-old cannot be fully settled.
Bastoni is one of the brightest young prospects in Italian football and Inter would therefore have good rights to demand more than a left-back in the twilight of their careers in exchange for one of their most valuable assets.
