Level with Saliba 

©TM/IMAGO

Who is the best centre-back in the world? The question could spark heated debate lasting several hours in households across every continent. Virgil van Dijk’s imperious displays for Liverpool ensure he’s the leading contender for the throne, while William Saliba has developed into a world-class centre-back but lacks the trophies to show for it.

Conversely, Antonio Rüdiger has won it all and only a brave man would bet against the Real Madrid defender adding another Champions League title to his collection this season. While Serie A doesn’t fixate attention like the English Premier League or Real Madrid, Alessandro Bastoni deserves to be in the discussion. Italy has produced some of the most iconic centre-backs in recent history in Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci but Inter Milan’s Bastoni is a worthy successor for the Azzurri.

Alessandro Bastoni: The joint most-valuable defender in the world

After progressing through the youth ranks at local club Atalanta, Lombardy-born Bastoni was snapped up by Inter Milan for €31 million in 2017 after just three senior appearances. The centre-back comes from good stock with his father, Nicola, playing professionally as a left-back for various Italian sides, including Cremonese.  Inter initially loaned Bastoni back to Atalanta for two seasons but recalled him after just one to dispatch him to Parma, where he proved that he could thrive in Serie A. 

Since returning to Inter in 2019, Bastoni has developed brilliantly under the tutelage of two master tacticians in Antonio Conte and Simeone Inzaghi. The 25-year-old has blossomed as a left-sided centre-back in both manager’s 3-5-2 formations with his aerial prowess, ability in possession and physicality earning him the reputation as the best centre-back in Italy. Bastoni has two Serie A titles to his name and four cups in Italy, while he’s narrowly lost out in Champions League and Europa League finals. 

And as the graphic above illustrates, Bastoni’s market value rose by €5m to €80m in the latest Serie A market value update, making him the joint-most valuable defender in the world, alongside Arsenal’s Salba. Moreover, Bastoni is now also the joint-most valuable Italian player in Transfermakrt history alongside current Inter teammate Nicolo Barella. Bastoni is on course to win his third Scudetto this season and Inter remain dark horses in the Champions League after recording an incredible eight clean sheets in their ten games so far, with Bayern Munich awaiting in the quarter-finals.

Bastoni brilliance: Why Inter Milan star is so highly rated

The demands on a modern centre-back are vastly different to previous eras with an increased emphasis on ball-playing ability. While Bastoni excels in possession, the Italy international has very few weaknesses in his game and being left-footed is another desirable trait. Bastoni is the third Italian in history, alongside Bonucci and Nesta, to become the most-valuable defender in the world and Jatin Dietl, Transfermarkt’s Serie A expert, insists it’s fully deserved.

“There are probably very few players in the world as complete as him,” Dietl insisted. “Bastoni is one of the main reasons Inter has conceded only two goals in ten Champions League matches and kept seven clean sheets in the league phase, despite facing opponents like Man City and Arsenal. Along with his important defensive qualities, he stands out for his passing precision and ball control. His excellent vision of the game, along with the previously mentioned qualities, allow him to play the ball from the back, acting as an additional playmaker in the offensive phase, in which he often participates by advancing into the attacking third to create numerical superiority and provide assists. His tall stature also makes him strong in aerial duels, a quality he can use when pushing forward for set pieces. Now, at 25, he has also taken on an absolute leadership role within the team.”