Ahead of the Champions League match in Bodø, the Inter defender speaks out for the first time on the Kalulu incident, apologizing for his actions and condemning the abuse aimed at his family.
Inside the Bodø/Glimt stadium, Inter showed up in full force. President Beppe Marotta was there, as usual, but so were the captain and vice-captain, Lautaro Martínez and Nicolò Barella. Their presence was anything but accidental—it was a clear sign of solidarity as Alessandro Bastoni finally broke his silence on the most talked-about episode of the past few days.
In the freezing conditions of northern Norway, the Inter defender addressed the incident against Juventus head-on, choosing clarity over deflection. “I wanted to be here to give my version. It was right and necessary to put my face to it and explain how I felt, given that I’ve been the most talked-about person in the last few hours,” Bastoni said.
“When I felt the contact, I exaggerated the fall to gain an advantage. I say it without any problem, and I’m sorry about that. But above all, I’m sorry for what came afterward. The celebration was very ugly—it was the result of a competitive trance. I regret reacting that way.”
Bastoni then pushed back against the idea that a single moment should define him. “I also believe it’s fair that my career and who I am as a person are not defined by that episode. I’ve played more than 300 matches as a professional, not just this one,” he explained.
“That said, I didn’t expect to create such a stir. I noticed a lot of hypocrisy and moral posturing around me. I heard many people in the game say things that make no sense at all. I want to thank those who said the right things: ‘Bastoni made a mistake, he was stupid…’”
The days following the match were difficult, marked by online abuse and heavy thoughts. Still, on the eve of the Champions League playoff—where he is expected to start—Bastoni stressed that he is mentally fine.
“Personally, the situation hasn’t affected me that much. I’m capable of managing everything,” he said. “I’m sorry for my wife and my daughter, who still can’t understand what’s going on around her. Camilla received messages with insults and death threats—things that are completely out of this world. I’m also sorry for referee Federico La Penna, who went through something similar.”
Returning to the pitch, Bastoni insisted, is the only way forward. “The same thing happened the other way around against Liverpool, and back then the coach was consistent in saying the same things. Now I just want to play.”
He reiterated the core of his message with calm conviction.
“Human beings must have the right to make mistakes, but also the duty to acknowledge them. That’s why I’m here. On a personal level, this hasn’t scarred me. I’m exposed and used to what the president rightly called a media pillory, and I can handle it. But I’m sorry for my wife and daughter—she received wishes of illness and death threats that have no place in the world. The same goes for La Penna, especially for people who aren’t as accustomed to this level of exposure. Mentally, I’m doing very well.”
Speaking separately to Sky, Bastoni added:
“I wanted to be here because people talked about it much more than I imagined. I waited a few days to rewatch what happened and understand the difference compared to the live moment. I felt contact on the arm, which, watching it back, I clearly exaggerated. I’m especially sorry for my behavior afterward. I’m here to take responsibility. I’ll always be the same Bastoni—out of more than 300 matches, I’ve only been involved in something like this once, on Saturday.”
Turning his attention to the upcoming match against Bodø/Glimt, Bastoni struck a focused tone.
“We’ve studied them. Beyond the artificial turf and the cold, they’re a strong team with pace and quality. The conditions will be a trap—City lost here, and Atlético lost in Madrid. It’ll be different from Interello, but we don’t want excuses. We know what we have to do.”
