The Italy Prosecutor's Office in Milan has placed Alessandro Bastoni, the 25-year-old Inter Milan and Italy national team defender, under formal investigation for alleged underage prostitution. The investigation centers on an alleged paid sexual encounter in 2020 when Bastoni was 21 and the complainant was 17, below Italy's age of consent threshold for commercial sexual activity. Bastoni is scheduled for questioning, his first opportunity to formally respond to the allegations.
The case emerges from a broader investigation into Ma.De Milano, an event-planning company allegedly functioning as a front for a prostitution ring. Prosecutors allege the operation catered to high-net-worth clients, including professional footballers from multiple Serie A clubs, Formula 1 drivers, and hockey players. Four individuals connected to the agency have been arrested, though they deny the allegations, insisting they organized social events rather than coordinated sex services.
Understanding Italian Law on Age of Consent
Under Italian Criminal Code Article 600-bis, paying for sex with anyone under 18 is categorically illegal and prosecuted as exploitation of minors, distinct from the general age of consent of 14 (rising to 16 if one party holds authority). This distinction is critical for understanding charges in this case: while general consensual sexual activity may fall within Italian law's parameters, commercial sexual activity with minors is uniformly prohibited.
For Bastoni specifically, prosecutors must prove he engaged in a paid sexual encounter with the 17-year-old complainant. The woman, now an adult, has denied any intimate relationship with him, paid or otherwise, according to investigators. However, prosecutors report they possess corroborating evidence including phone records and chat messages recovered from seized devices belonging to Ma.De Milano staff and escorts.
The Investigation's Structure
Authorities intercepted communications revealing operational language consistent with commercial management. Conversations reference selecting escorts, client debts, and money arrangements. Financial analysis shows approximately €1.2 million moved through Ma.De Milano accounts over a period, suggesting a sophisticated operation that prosecutors allege generated revenue primarily from a 50 percent commission on escort fees.
The investigation also extended geographically, with prosecutors suggesting summer operations in Mykonos and shifts to private residences during COVID-19 lockdowns. Digital evidence under analysis includes records cross-referencing more than 60 surnames of professional footballers to map the client base and identify service arrangements.
Legal Implications for Bastoni
Bastoni's attorney has stated his client "excludes having had a relationship with a girl he knew to be underage." The defense will determine strategy at the upcoming questioning—whether to answer prosecutors' questions or invoke the right to silence pending access to the full investigative file, standard practice in Italian criminal procedure.
Other professional footballers, including Daniel Maldini of Atalanta, Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal, and Kevin Bonifazi of Bologna, have been summoned as witnesses to clarify Ma.De Milano's operations and client base. None are under investigation.
What Happens Next
Italian procedure permits defendants to submit written statements, answer questions, or remain silent during interrogation. The outcome will help prosecutors determine whether to recommend formal charges or request further investigation.
The Italian Football Federation could open disciplinary proceedings under its sporting justice code, which mandates loyalty and correctness standards. However, neither FC Internazionale Milano nor the federation has issued statements regarding the investigation, consistent with presumed innocence principles. Should formal charges be filed, both organizations will face pressure to clarify positions on Bastoni's continued participation.
The broader Ma.De Milano investigation appears ongoing, with additional charges—including tax evasion or false accounting—remaining possible as prosecutors continue analyzing digital evidence and conducting witness interviews.
