The Argentine striker, Lautaro Martínez, has been the target of Barcelona throughout this summer but he will not leave Italy during this transfer market, as confirmed by his agents.
Lautaro Martínez has been chosen by the Catalan club as the ideal signing to reinforce the forward position and replace the imminent departure of Luis Suárez. In the hunt for a ‘9’, the Argentine has remained the favourite. However, Inter Milan has not made it easy for Barcelona and from the beginning, the operation was financially difficult.
Several news outlets reported that Barça and the forward reached an agreement on personal terms but negotiations with the Italian club were stalled. During weeks, Barcelona was looking for a formula to negotiate with the Nerazzurri but, without success, the Italians stuck to the termination clause or to figures that were not viable for Barcelona since they did not drop below 90 million euros.
Today, the saga is over as Lautaro Martínez’s agents met with the Inter Milan board of directors. According to Fabrizio Romano’s reports for Sky Sport, the 23-year-old Argentine representative ended the rumours that placed the forward in Spain, either with Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Beto Yaqué declared for Sky Sport that: “There is absolutely nothing with Real Madrid, we are not talking about that or about Barcelona. If you are going to stay? That’s right, Lautaro stays here at Inter.”
According to the same report, the Lombardy club board will have a new meeting with Lautaro Martínez’s agents once the transfer market closes, and contract renewal is an option that is on the table. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, an important part of the renewal, in addition to the salary improvement, would be a clause that facilitates the departure of the Nerazzurri number ’10’ if an offer comes and convinces both parties.
On the other hand, Mundo Deportivo reports that from Barcelona they have been direct with the Argentine, they ask him to wait a year for the situation to improve and thus the operation is dislodged.
This season, confirmed by Lautaro Martínez’s own representative, the former Racing de Avellaneda’s striker will stay at the Giuseppe Meazza for at least one more season.
