Alessandro Bastoni, the Inter Milan and Italy defender, is at the centre of a criminal investigation in Milan over allegations of child prostitution, with prosecutors claiming he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl in June 2020.
The 27-year-old has been summoned to appear before the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office as part of a broader probe into an alleged escort ring. The case, which emerged through reports in Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport, has sent shockwaves through Italian football.
Because the alleged encounter took place when the girl was a minor, paid sexual relations would constitute child prostitution under Italian law.
Bastoni's lawyer, Salvatore Scuto, firmly rejected the allegations. "My client is very shaken," Scuto said. "I can rule out that he ever engaged in paid sexual relations, let alone with minors."
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the girl has already been questioned by investigators. She acknowledged staying at Bastoni's home but denied any sexual relationship with the player.
The investigation marks the latest ordeal for the Italy international in what has been a turbulent period. Bastoni was sent off during Italy's crucial World Cup qualifying playoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, and the Azzurri ultimately lost on penalties, failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
He and his family also faced online abuse following an incident in Inter's Serie A match against Juventus on February 14, when he was accused of diving to get an opposition player sent off.
Bastoni, a cornerstone of Inter's defence who has won multiple Serie A titles with the Nerazzurri and earned regular call-ups for Italy, now faces ongoing legal proceedings with no formal charges yet filed.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/bastoni-inter-child-prostitution-48efb4ab2e763ce84da2e91acaea87f5
