One of the big priorities at Manchester City during the last transfer window was to bolster the centre of their defence.
They did just that, spending a large sum of money to secure the services of both Nathan Aké and Rúben Dias from AFC Bournemouth and Benfica respectively.
One of the key aspects Pep Guardiola was seemingly looking for was for one of them to be left-footed, which is why the Dutchman was signed, and yet he doesn’t appear to have been his first choice.
Among those in front of him seems to have been Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, with reports dating back to March claiming Manchester City were ready to do ‘crazy things’ to sign the young centre-back over the summer.
It was then reported the Premier League side had ‘asked for information’ in April, while an article suggested in October that Guardiola’s side had ‘probed the ground’ to sign the Italy international.
Fast forward to Friday, and Corriere dello Sport believe they went further than that, stating ‘Manchester City were willing to put more than €50m on the table last summer’.
However, Inter ‘have closed the door to any negotiations, also renouncing on a substantial profit that would have resulted’ from such a deal.
For them, ‘it would not have made sense to give up a player who is destined to become a pillar in the years to come’, and their plan ‘is to secure him with a new contract’.
