NBA Wisdom meets Italian grit: Bastoni on losses, growth, and a derby coming

From Italy to the NBA: Bastoni on resilience

Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni argues that Italian football can learn crucial lessons from the NBA’s culture of resilience, especially in how to handle defeat and criticism.

In an interview cited by Calcio Mercato, he says he most envies how Americans accept losses. In their world, losing is not the end of the world; there is always another chance to prove yourself.

He highlights the openness of NBA players and their freer expression with fans, noting that Americans are further ahead in this sense. He adds he must live with that reality because he chose Italian football.

Asked about the night many felt was Inter’s worst, the 5-0 final loss to Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s Champions League, Bastoni called it strange and hard to explain; PSG were faster, and it was hard to grasp their strength.

He adds that reaching finals in three years is not easy; of course they would have liked to win, but these are experiences carried forward.

Marotta’s praise and Inter’s rising stars

Inter’s chief Giuseppe Marotta praised young striker Francesco Bio Espozito, who continues to shine for the Nerazzurri and the Italian national team. He said Bio Espozito shows talent that has been evident for years, even when a kid in the academy.

Marotta stressed that it’s not only about wearing the Inter shirt but about being a product of the club’s youth generation at Appiano Gentile, reinforcing Inter’s long‑term plan to invest in academy paths.

He continued that Bio Espozito should be a model for the club’s youngsters, illustrating a pathway to wider horizons and to representing not just a great club like Inter but Italian football as a whole.

These comments reflect Inter’s belief that the young man could become a central figure for both the club and the national team in coming years.

Inter’s season so far

In Europe, Inter began the season strongly in the Champions League, winning away at Ajax 2-0, then beating Slavia Prague 3-0 with Lautaro Martínez scoring twice and Dumfries contributing, and later routing Union Saint‑Gilloise 4-0. In their fourth game they conceded for the first time but still edged to victory against Kairat Almaty 2-1 to stay on course.

So far, they have 11 goals scored and one conceded, sitting on 12 points, level with Bayern Munich and Arsenal, ahead of Manchester City on 10, and well clear of several giants; Inter also lead the European pack in goals with 26, ten more than any other side.

Domestically, Inter began with a commanding 5-0 win over Torino, then endured surprising losses to Udinese (2-1) and Juventus (4-3). They bounced back with wins over Sassuolo (2-1), Cagliari (2-0), Cremonese (4-1), and Roma (1-0), before a 3-1 away defeat at Napoli, followed by a strong 3-0 home win over Fiorentina.

The campaign continued with a victory away at Hellas Verona (2-1) and a win over Lazio (2-0). Currently, Inter sit at the top with 24 points, level with Roma in second, and two points ahead of Milan and Napoli (22 each). Crucially, Inter boast the league’s best attacking return, having netted 26 goals, ten more than the next best side.

Looking ahead, a big test awaits as Inter host their traditional rivals Milan at the Meazza on Sunday, in what will be a pivotal clash of the twelfth round. A win would widen Inter’s lead; a Milan victory would re‑ignite the title race.

And a note on morale: if the derby is a barrel of nerves, Inter’s approach remains pragmatic—aim for control, keep belief, and perhaps, just perhaps, let one corner of the net do the talking on game day.

Sniper joke 1: Inter’s defense is so tight that even their mistakes are clearly offside. Sniper’s aside: precision matters, even when your shots come wrapped in blue and black.

Sniper joke 2: If patience were a trophy, Inter would have a shelf full; the problem is the season has a habit of borrowing all the trophies for a comeback episode.