Inter Milan president Giuseppe Marotta has firmly rejected reports linking defender Alessandro Bastoni to Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, insisting no formal offer has been tabled for the Italian centre-back. Speaking to 365Scores on Tuesday, Marotta dismissed speculation that Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi requested Bastoni's signing this summer, emphasizing Inter's clear stance on retaining the 25-year-old through the 2026-2027 season.
The denial comes as Al-Hilal pursues an ambitious squad overhaul following a disappointing 2025-2026 campaign that yielded only the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup. The Riyadh club's transfer strategy hinges on resolving the futures of established defenders Kalidou Koulibaly and Yusuf Akcicek before investing in fresh defensive options. A final assessment during pre-season training will determine whether either veteran departs, shaping Al-Hilal's recruitment priorities for the upcoming window.
Barcelona's Transfer Moves Remain Speculative
Separate sources have clarified the status of Al-Hilal duo Joao Cancelo and Darwin Nunez amid persistent links to Barcelona. Contrary to recent transfer whispers, the Catalan giants have lodged no official bid for Portuguese full-back Cancelo, whose defensive prowess and attacking flair would bolster their flanks. Nunez, the Uruguayan striker, has merely surfaced as a contingency option should Barcelona fail to land their primary attacking targets.
Barcelona's interest in Cancelo carries historical weight—the club has long tracked versatile defenders capable of functioning across multiple positions in their progressive system. However, concrete movement remains absent. The speculation surrounding Nunez appears less substantive, reflecting Barcelona's wider recruitment flexibility rather than genuine pursuit. No formal offers have been submitted for either player, leaving both Al-Hilal stars focused on their Saudi obligations heading into next season.
Inter's resolute position on Bastoni signals the club's ambition to maintain squad continuity under Inzaghi, while Barcelona's transfer caution suggests the Spanish side will prioritize established targets over opportunistic moves in this window.
