The Alessandro Bastoni transfer saga continues to unfold, with Inter Milan's president Giuseppe Marotta becoming the latest figure to address Barcelona's reported interest in the star defender. Fresh off Inter's Scudetto triumph, Marotta has delivered a pointed message that will likely cool the Catalan club's ambitions.

Bastoni has emerged as a top summer target for Barcelona, but Inter's sporting director Piero Ausilio has already made it clear that the club wants to keep their prized asset. Now Marotta is echoing that sentiment, though with a diplomatic twist that acknowledges Barcelona's pursuit without fueling it.

"I won't deny there is interest from Barcelona, but it is still very superficial and not concrete," Marotta told Radio Rai, carefully balancing transparency with a firm stance. "As we've always said, a player leaves only if he expresses the desire to go. At the moment, he is our player, he wants to stay and we are happy with him."

The message is clear: Inter are not actively shopping Bastoni, and any move would require the player's own push for a transfer—something that hasn't materialized. For Barcelona, this represents a significant hurdle in their summer planning.

While the Spanish press remains confident that Barcelona will make a serious push for the 25-year-old Italian international, reports emerging from Italy paint a different picture. Italian sources suggest the deal is becoming increasingly "complicated," and Barcelona may need to pivot to more affordable alternatives. Among the names being floated is Evan Ndicka, who could offer a cheaper solution to strengthen the Blaugrana's defensive line.

As the summer transfer window approaches, this saga serves as a reminder that even the most persistent suitors can face brick walls when clubs refuse to sell their key players. For now, Bastoni remains firmly in Nerazzurri colors—and that's exactly how Inter want it.