What happened: Inter president Giuseppe Marotta acknowledged Barcelona's interest in defender Alessandro Bastoni but described it as 'still very superficial and not concrete.' Marotta reiterated Inter's stance that a player only leaves if he expresses the desire to go, adding that Bastoni currently wants to stay at the club. The comments echo Marotta's earlier remarks confirming Barcelona's interest while calling it superficial.

Why it matters: Bastoni is one of Inter's cornerstone defenders and a key piece of the squad that just won Serie A. A Barcelona move would significantly weaken Inter's backline heading into the 2026-27 Champions League campaign. Marotta's measured response suggests Inter has no intention of negotiating unless Bastoni pushes for an exit.

What to watch: Watch for any concrete bid from Barcelona or shift in Bastoni's public stance during the summer window. Inter's transfer posture will be tested as the window opens.