Alessandro Bastoni, a reported Tottenham Hotspur target, praised Antonio Conte in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport this week.
During Conte’s time at Inter Milan, the two Italians worked together, and Bastoni established himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A. He was heavily linked with a summer move to Tottenham, and reports claim he’ll be a target again in 2023. (Gazzetta dello Sport).
Tottenham target Alessandro Bastoni praises Antonio Conte
Bastoni made his Serie A debut for Inter Milan when Conte was at the helm there. The now-Spurs boss really trusted the young defender in 2019 and helped him become one of the most talented center-backs of his age in Italy.
The 23-year-old, who is valued by Inter at £52.3 million (Gazzetta), played 74 times under Conte and won the Serie A title in the 2020/21 campaign.
Bastoni was asked about Conte this week, and the defender showered praises on the Tottenham boss.
He said: “The title came with him, coinciding with the arrival at Inter. It is as if I had made a qualitative leap.
“Conte is a driver, a motivator, who makes specific requests to his players trying to transfer a winning mentality.
“I owe him so much.”
After trying long and hard to sign Bastoni in the summer, Tottenham accepted defeat. Spurs secured a loan deal for Clement Lenglet instead, but it is no secret at all that the Inter Milan man is very highly rated at Hotspur Way.
Football journalist Ryan Taylor revealed on GiveMeSport in the summer that the Tottenham board ‘unanimously agreed’ on signing Bastoni. That move, sadly for Spurs fans, did not materialize.
However, Bastoni, who has been branded as a ‘guaranteed superstar’ by Italian super-agent Roberto De Fanti on CaughtOffside, will enter the final 18 months of his contract in January. If Inter fails to agree on a deal to extend his contract by then, a number of clubs will try to sign him.
Tottenham will likely be among them, and if Conte extends his stay in North London, convincing Bastoni to join Spurs will be a lot easier.
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