Inter weigh Riccardo Calafiori move if Alessandro Bastoni leaves

March 30, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

Inter's reported interest in Calafiori

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Inter are considering Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori as a potential replacement if Alessandro Bastoni leaves during the summer window. The report frames Calafiori as one of the names Inter could examine if they are forced back into the market for a high level left sided defender, particularly one who is comfortable playing both across the back line and in a central role.

That interest, however, appears to be conditional rather than immediate. Inter's thinking is linked to the possibility of losing Bastoni, and not to an active push for Calafiori in the current moment. In that sense, the situation is better understood as a contingency plan than as an advanced transfer move, with Calafiori viewed as a profile that could fit if circumstances change.

Why Arsenal are in no rush to sell

Any move would be difficult to pull off in the near term because Arsenal are not expecting to let Calafiori go this summer. He is settled in North London, he is not actively pushing for an exit, and his contract places Arsenal in a strong position. That makes this less a live negotiation and more a reported expression of interest from Italy, based on what could happen if Inter need to replace a major starter.

Calafiori's own situation also points toward continuity rather than change. While he said earlier in March that he would like to return to Roma sooner or later, those comments were widely understood as long term rather than as a signal of an imminent departure. For now, there is little to suggest that either the player or Arsenal are preparing for a summer split, even if his name is beginning to surface in transfer discussions abroad.

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Why a summer move looks unlikely

The key factor is timing. Inter's interest, according to TuttoMercatoWeb, only becomes truly relevant if Bastoni leaves, while Arsenal have little reason to entertain offers for a defender they see as part of their longer term plans. That combination leaves the story in a speculative phase, with several pieces needing to move before it becomes a realistic market development.

For Calafiori, the more immediate focus appears to be on establishing himself and continuing his progress in England. A future return to Serie A may remain part of the broader picture, especially given his past connection to Roma and his standing in Italian football, but the current outlook points toward him staying at Arsenal rather than changing clubs in the coming window.

Sources: TuttoMercatoWeb

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