Footballer Under Investigation
Inter Defender Alessandro Bastoni Formally Investigated in Milan Underage Escort Probe
Key Points
The 27-year-old Inter defender Bastoni is reportedly the first footballer to be formally investigated in the Milan escort-minor prostitution case.
Digital chat logs from June 2020 allegedly show a Ma.De agency facilitator connected Bastoni to the 17-year-old, forming part of the evidence cited by investigators.
The avviso di garanzia Bastoni received is a formal notice of investigation—a procedural step rather than a charge—and he is expected to be questioned in the coming days.
The case is framed as part of broader scrutiny of how high-profile athletes interact with third-party service agencies, illustrating a trend in increased oversight of private conduct.
Inter Milan and Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni has been formally placed under investigation by Milan prosecutors in a child prostitution probe, making him the first professional footballer to receive suspect status in the case, according to ANSA. The 27-year-old received an avviso di garanzia — a formal notice of investigation, not a charge — on June 30, 2026, and is scheduled to be questioned by the Guardia di Finanza on July 3.
The probe centers on an alleged encounter in June 2020 between Bastoni, then 21, and a 17-year-old girl. Investigators say digital chat logs link a facilitator from the Ma.De escort agency to the alleged meeting. Bastoni's lawyer denies everything. The girl herself says no relationship took place.
What the Ma.De Agency Actually Did
Ma.De Milano, based in Cinisello Balsamo near Milan, operated as an event planning company. But prosecutors say it was really a luxury escort ring targeting VIP clients — mostly professional footballers. The agency sold "all-inclusive" packages: entry to exclusive nightclubs, hotel stays, escort services, and nitrous oxide, which does not show up in standard anti-doping tests, according to SPORTbible.
Authorities estimate the network managed over 100 women. On April 21, 2026, police dismantled the agency and placed four people under house arrest, including founders Emanuele Buttini and Deborah Ronchi. Prosecutors charge them with criminal association and exploitation of prostitution. During the raids, an administrative error exposed a search keyword list naming more than 70 footballers as alleged clients, according to Yahoo Sports.
Why Bastoni Faces Investigation While Others Only Give Testimony
Being a client of an escort is not a crime in Italy. The case against Bastoni is different. Article 600-bis of the Italian Penal Code makes any paid sexual act with a minor a serious criminal offense. Investigators allege the 2020 encounter involved a 17-year-old, putting it squarely under that law, according to Newsy Today.
Three other players — Daniel Maldini of Atalanta, Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal, and Kevin Bonifazi — were summoned only as witnesses. They are not under investigation. Prosecutors want their testimony to map out the agency's client network. None of them face suspect status at this stage, according to Yahoo Sports.
Bastoni Denies It, and So Does the Alleged Victim
Bastoni's lawyer, Salvatore Scuto, pushed back hard. "My client denies having had any relationship with a girl he knew was underage," Scuto said. He also raised a procedural complaint, saying the July 3 summons is "incomplete" and that the defense "knows nothing about the investigation."
Critically, the woman at the center of the case also denies any encounter took place. That denial weakens the prosecution's narrative. Prosecutors, however, reportedly believe her statement may reflect a desire for privacy rather than the truth, given the high profile of those involved, according to SPORTbible. No charges have been filed. Bastoni retains the full presumption of innocence.
Six-Year-Old Chats and What Comes Next
The core evidence is a set of digital chat logs from June 2020 — six years before Bastoni received his formal notice. Investigators say a Ma.De facilitator used those chats to connect Bastoni with the girl. Legal experts note that building a case on digital fragments from 2020 signals a long and methodical forensic investigation, according to SPORTbible.
If the case proceeds to trial and ends in conviction, Bastoni could face significant prison time under Italian law. But if prosecutors find the woman's denial and the defense's arguments credible, the case may be archived before a trial begins. For now, Inter Milan has not suspended him. Reports of transfer interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona may cool while the legal process plays out, according to Yahoo Sports.
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