
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
Marcel Desailly believes Alessandro Bastoni can elevate Barcelona's performance, despite stating he 'isn't even half of Maldini.' Bastoni has faced criticism recently, particularly following a controversial incident in a match against Juventus.
Desailly: Bastoni âisnât even half of Maldiniâ but can bring Barcelona to âdifferent levelâ
Former Milan star Marcel Desailly feels Alessandro Bastoni could bring Barcelona to a âdifferent levelâ, but the Inter defender âisnât even half of Paolo Maldini.â
Ex-Milan and France defender Desailly spoke to the Italian Football Podcast about two under-fire Serie A stars in recent weeks: Interâs Bastoni and Milanâs Rafael Leao.
Bastoni has received criticism from fans and media alike in recent months. The Inter star was first involved in a huge controversy during a Serie A match against Juventus in February, when he caused and celebrated a red card for Pierre Kalulu.
A few weeks later, he received a straight red card in Italyâs World Cup play-off Final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which proved to be a big turning point in the Azzurriâs loss on penalties.
âI think he has been consistent, I think heâs been at Inter for like seven seasons and doing well no matter who the coach is,â Desailly said.
âI donât think heâs a top international leader, but as you said, he is a player who knows how to adapt to the system. This is his limit.
âHe has helped Inter to probably win the league this season by his consistency and understanding of how to read the game. But I think the limit is there, international level, this is it. They donât play the same system.
MADRID, SPAIN â APRIL 22: Laureus World Academy Member Marcel Desailly during the EURO 2024 Press Conference prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards Madrid 2024 at the Palacio de Cibeles on April 22, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images for Laureus)
âHe managed to adapt himself again with Gattuso. He is on the left side, if you want to compare him to Maldini, but he isnât even half of Maldini. But he is who he is.â
Several sources claim that Bastoni, who is under contract with Inter until 2028, is keen to join Barcelona in the summer, and Desailly believes that both the defender and Barça would benefit from such a move.
âYes I mean it is a good experience to match your level. Same as Leao, I donât know his winning mentality. He is a defender, he isnât a creative player,â said Desailly, a 1998 France World Cup winner.
âBut maybe he can lift the level to understand and adapt to Barcelonaâs level where they are in need of a strong defensive attitude.
FLORENCE, ITALY â OCTOBER 08: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy looks on prior to the Italy training session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on October 08, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
âYou can see Barcelona, in each position they are just amazing, but they are weak at the back, and that is why they donât win the Champions League.
âSo he could be that player that brings that consistency and that strength on the defensive block to bring Barcelona to another level. Because they definitely need defensive leaders in the squad.â
Milan star Rafael Leao hasnât scored a goal since March 1, and Gazzetta dello Sport recently argued that the Portuguese winger and the Rossoneri should part ways at the end of the season.
âYou said it, you cannot criticise him, because the day you criticise him, he will produce magic on the pitch. And you are stuck, and you donât know what to say anymore. In five seconds, he will crash out all the negativity you put on him,â argued Desailly.
âBut we know 100% that he doesnât have the consistency. And he isnât on his own a leader for a full season like Messi was, and Neymar was.
âHe doesnât have that consistency. He is an important player for the team, but he can never be the main man throughout the season. He can be the main man once in a while because he will be on and off.
âAnd he looks like he has reached the maximum level he can produce. I canât criticise him because he is earning a lot of money and plays for Milan and the Portuguese national team.
âBut I think that he thinks he is everything. He isnât mentally ready to study where he can improve physically, because he potentially cannot give more physically,â continued the ex-Milan defender.
MILAN, ITALY â APRIL 11: Rafael Leao of AC Milan is hugged by Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, after being substituted during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Udinese Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
âThen maybe he can potentially study how to change his diet, training or whatever to have that consistency. He is a bit of a problem in a system because he doesnât track back. Heâll push forward but when the action is finished, he stops.
âIt means he doesnât have the legs to get back into position. So, there must be a physical and mental approach that could eventually bring him to the level of, because he could be Ballon dâOr.
âBut does he really want it? Is his entourage smart enough to be able to tell him, âLook, what youâve done is great, but to get to the next level, you will need to adjust certain things.â
âBecause for now this is the maximum we can expect from Leao.â
Marcel Desailly stated that Alessandro Bastoni could bring Barcelona to a 'different level,' but he also emphasized that Bastoni 'isn't even half of Maldini.'
Alessandro Bastoni has received criticism from fans and media due to his performance, particularly following a controversial incident in a Serie A match against Juventus.
Bastoni was involved in a controversy during a Serie A match against Juventus in February, where he caused and celebrated a red card for Pierre Kalulu.
Desailly compares Bastoni unfavorably to Paolo Maldini, stating that Bastoni 'isn't even half of Maldini' in terms of skill and impact.

Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
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