Mourinho identifies Alessandro Bastoni as Real Madrid's top defensive target
Following Nico Schlotterbeck's injury, Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni has emerged as the primary candidate for the Madrid club.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Alejandro Ramos
Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has identified his priority target to bolster the center of defense. According to reports, the Portuguese manager is keen to bring Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni to the club.
The Madrid side is expected to accelerate work on a potential transfer only after the possible sale of Raul Asensio. The departure of the Spaniard is intended to free up a spot in the squad for the new central defender. Although Inter values the player at approximately 70 million euros, Bastoni remains the leading candidate.
The shift in priorities comes after an injury to Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck. The German suffered an ankle ligament injury during the 2026 World Cup and is expected to be sidelined for about two months.
Despite this, Schlotterbeck remains an option, as his new contract includes a release clause of around 50 million euros available to a limited group of clubs, including Real Madrid. Ruben Dias is also mentioned as an alternative, but he is currently not considered a priority target.