Alessandro Bastoni has moved swiftly to address the storm that followed Inter Milan’s dramatic victory over Juventus, admitting he overplayed the incident that led to Pierre Kalulu’s dismissal and conceding that his reaction crossed a line.
Sunday’s 3–2 triumph for Inter was overshadowed by a contentious first-half moment when Juventus fullback Pierre Kalulu received his second yellow card for a challenge on Bastoni.
Replays suggested minimal contact, yet the Inter defender went to ground convincingly, prompting referee Federico La Penna to award the foul. Because VAR in Serie A cannot intervene in second yellow-card situations, the decision stood, leaving Juventus reduced to ten men.
Matters intensified when Bastoni was seen celebrating as Kalulu made his way off the pitch, a gesture that infuriated the Juventus bench and sparked fierce debate across Italian media.
In the days that followed, the Italy international chose to confront the controversy head-on. Speaking to Amazon Prime, he acknowledged both the exaggeration and the fallout.
“I took a couple of days to reflect and listen to what was said. I wanted to put my face out there and explain what I experienced,” Bastoni said.
He did not shy away from responsibility for the decisive moment, admitting: “When I felt Kalulu’s hand, I definitely exaggerated a light contact to take advantage of it; it’s clear for everyone to see. The reaction is what I regret the most, but it’s human.”
Bastoni was equally candid about the impact on his reputation, insisting that one lapse should not define a career that has spanned more than 300 professional appearances.
“I’m sorry I disappointed people in my behavior, considering what people expect and are used to seeing from me,” he said, underlining that his greatest concern was being misjudged as a person rather than a player caught in the heat of competition.
The defender also addressed the criticism that has followed, portraying it as part of life at a club of Inter’s stature. “I’m used to it now; everyone can talk, that’s part of being an Inter player. We’re trained to handle these situations as best we can,” he added.
