Barcelona’s pursuit of Lautaro Martinez hits snag
"Barcelona will need to splash the cash if they want to sign Lautaro Martinez."
Barcelona’s pursuit of Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez may be over before it even started as the Serie A club are reportedly unwilling to negotiate on the transfer fee.
Mundo Deportivo report that Inter have informed the Catalans that they will need to pay the player’s release clause of €110 million if they wish to acquire his services.
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Barcelona know that Luis Suarez’s time as at the club is winding down therefore a suitable replacement needs to be identified and signed. Martinez was the current front-runner given his attributes.
The former Racing man is a natural goalscorer, has pace, and can play on the wings. In Inter’s Champions League match against Barcelona, he opened up the score and was a constant threat getting in behind the center-backs and beating them for pace.
He also has the advantage that he is Lionel Messi’s teammate in the national team with Argentina. They’ve played together so there is a familiarity there.
Suarez himself has given his blessing should Barça make a serious push for him.
According to Sport, in an interview with Onefootball, the Uruguayan gave the names of players he thought could take over once he leaves. Martinez’s name was brought up as well as Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham and fellow Uruguayan Maxi Gomez.
The striker position is one that seems to flummox Barcelona. Suarez has been the man up top since arriving in the 2014-2015 season from Liverpool but the club have failed in finding a back-up.
Paco Alcacer was signed a few seasons ago to be that back-up but played little under both Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde.
In a strange move, Kevin-Prince Boateng was signed during last season’s winter transfer window and featured only in a handful of games.
Suarez isn’t getting any younger and isn’t the same player he once was. He’s lost a step and his first touch leaves much to be desired. That being said, he remains Barcelona’s first choice because there isn’t any other option.
While Inter look unwilling to budge on their asking price, they may be resigned to the fact that they are going to lose Martinez as they have started to look for a replacement.
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Perhaps Barcelona can try to sweeten a potential deal as Inter were reportedly interested in Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal. In any case, Martinez is unlikely to be at Inter too much longer and ticks all the boxes that Barcelona are looking for.