MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 02: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale warms up prior to the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni says Italian football could learn important lessons from the culture of the NBA, above all, a healthier relationship with defeat and public criticism.
Speaking to Rivista Undici, the centre-back reflected on what he admires most about American basketball and how it contrasts with the environment surrounding Serie A players.
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
“The thing I envy most about that world is knowing how to accept defeat,” Bastoni admitted, with quotes via CalcioMercato. “In our game, losing feels like the end of the world. But when you play so much, it happens: you can’t always be at your peak. There’s always another chance to show your value.”
Inter defender Bastoni jealous of American ability to lose
Bastoni also pointed to the openness of American athletes and the more relaxed dynamic with fans. “They express themselves freely without being attacked or judged. In the US they are much more advanced than us. It doesn’t weigh on me, I have to live with it because I chose this world.”
Earlier in the week, Undici released the section of the interview in which Bastoni discussed Inter’s Champions League final defeat to PSG. He offered a frank assessment of the team’s performance that night.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – SEPTEMBER 09: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy in action during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A2 match between Israel and Italy at Bozsik Stadion on September 09, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
“It was a strange thing. We came from a semi-final that will go down in Champions League history, but in the final PSG were going at twice our speed. It’s hard to explain, it’s as if we didn’t realise just how strong they were.”
Despite the disappointment, he stressed the pride within the squad. “We reached two finals in three years, which is not easy. Of course we’d have preferred to win them, but these are experiences we carry with us.”
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