Bastoni grows as a pure central defender: more leadership and security in defense

This is not a sudden change, but a gradual path that is yielding concrete results. According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Bastoni is significantly improving in the role of pure central defender, a position that in the past had raised some doubts about his reliability.

This year the defender has played that role three times, convincing in two out of three occasions. The only negative performance came against Shakhtar, while in the other two outings he led the backline without mistakes, flanked by Akanji and Carlos Augusto (in Venice, Bisseck played instead of the Swiss player). The progress concerns in particular his leadership and confidence in defensive behavior.

The critical point that had fueled doubts about his performance as a central pivot dates back to the sending off in Zenica against Bosnia, in a match where the back three was completed by Mancini and Calafiori. That evening, together with the elimination in the playoffs and the failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, represents according to the Gazzetta an open wound, but Bastoni has never spoken about it in alarmist tones. Instead, he chose the path of hard work, ironing out flaws and building a more complete version of himself.

The growth, the Gazzetta emphasizes, is silent but substantial, also fueled by a healthy sporting revenge. The improvements have been seen both with Inter and with Italy, making the defender a more versatile piece available to Chivu and Mancini.