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Barcelona legend vetoes Lautaro Martinez swap deal

By Ranoveer Neogi

Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) celebrates with Barcelona's Spanish defender Gerard Pique after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on March 7, 2020. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) celebrates with Barcelona's Spanish defender Gerard Pique after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on March 7, 2020. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Barcelona are set to make a move for Inter Milan man Lautaro Martinez but have seen one of their approaches for the striker vetoed by a club legend.

Barcelona has considered to carry out a major revamp next season to compete for the coveted UEFA Champions League trophy, which the Catalan’s last won in Berlin 2014-15 against Massimo Allegri’s Juventus.

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Lionel Messi has urged the board to sign Neymar and Lautaro Martinez next season along with Nicolas Tagliafico from Ajax and former Betico man Fabian Ruiz from Napoli. However, to fulfill all the requests and demands from the players and the board, it would be a difficult task to accomplish for the club next season.

Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez would only be sold to whichever club can afford his 111 million euros release clause. The Blaugrana had considered triggering the release clause, however, now it seems unlikely as they also need to have sufficient revenue for Fabian Ruiz, Neymar and Nicolas Tagliafico. Thus Barcelona has devised a new plan to reduce Lautaro Martinez’s release clause.

Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is willing to negotiate with Barcelona for Lautaro Martinez, however, the Italian manager demands a crucial future star of Barcelona in exchange for the Argentine striker. The player that Conte wants is Arthur Melo who is considered as the heir of Xavi Hernandez at the Camp Nou.

Josep Maria Bartomeu and his team are well aware that the Brazilian midfielder has the talent to be next Xavi Hernandez and that if he continues to progress the way he is, then the Catalan club would have the best midfield lineup in the world with Arthur Melo and Frenkie de Jong.

The Catalan club is more than happy to part ways with Arthur Melo who has led a hedonistic lifestyle that has caused issues at the club because of his poor conditioning and discipline. The Brazilian midfielder is addicted to partying and carrying out activities that are banned by the club such as snowboarding during the tenure of the season. Barca is adamant that if Neymar returns then Arthur Melo will not change his lifestyle as he is a close friend of Neymar Junior and that the best possible option would be to rid of the midfielder before Neymar’s return.

Don Balon claims that Inter Milan and Barcelona will negotiate for a possible swap deal of Arthur Melo plus cash for Lautaro Martinez. However, some of the heavyweights at the club are close friends of the Brazilian and are against his possible departure as he valued very highly amongst his teammates.

Gerard Pique is one of the key players that have an important say at the club’s decision is against the possible departure of Arthur Melo. The Spanish defender believes that the midfielder is a rare talent and that his poor lifestyle can be changed through professional help.

Next. Barcelona want to bring in the Premier League’s best midfielder. dark

Gerrard Pique also hopes that Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets support his opinion that Arthur must stay for a sustainable future.

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