"Bastoni" scapegoat! Italy misses the World Cup for the third consecutive time; a legend suggests he must leave the country for his safety.
On 3 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Alessandro Bastoni, defender for Italy's national team and Inter Milan, became the target of nationwide fan criticism after a crucial moment in the match where the “Azzurri” were leading 1-0. Bastoni committed a foul in the final moments, receiving a red card that reduced Italy to 10 players. Bosnia then equalized and ultimately won in the penalty shootout, causing Italy to be eliminated from World Cup qualifying for the third consecutive time.
Previously, the 26-year-old defender had already faced intense criticism over a diving incident that led to Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu being sent off, with Bastoni even showing signs of celebration after the event.
Giuseppe Bergomi, Inter Milan legend, expressed his opinion on Radio Nerazzurra, stating that Bastoni should consider leaving Italy for his own safety, adding, “I think he should leave the country now.”
The 1982 World Cup champion also placed some responsibility on Italy’s national team head coach Gennaro Gattuso for continuing to field Bastoni despite his poor form, saying, “I regret that we are about to lose a highly talented player and one of the best defenders of this era. However, moving abroad might be the best option for him.”
“Over the past several months, he has faced immense pressure. I deeply sympathize with him, and the mistake in the game against Bosnia was difficult to avoid.”
Nonetheless, despite the tense situation, Inter Milan still values Bastoni at as much as 70 million euros. The player himself has shown no indication of wanting to leave and remains under contract with the club until 2028.