Barcelona target, Lautaro Martinez, will not be sold says Inter director.
Inter Milan’s Sporting Director has no intention of letting their most important player, Lautaro Martinez, leave for Barcelona.
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After being reported by many as a deal that has come to a closure with Barca reaching an agreement for Lautaro Martinez, Inter Milan’s Sporting Director hits them with a huge blow. The optimism with which Barca was approaching the Argentine striker has come to a shocking halt after Inter’s sporting director, Piero Ausilio, comments about Lautaro’s release clause.
Ausilio states that the only way anyone can come close to signing the striker is if they pay his release clause of 111 million euros.
"“As far as Martinez is concerned, there is only one way that he will leave Inter and that is by paying his clause, “A clause that everyone knows – there is no point in hiding – is demanding, because it has both deadlines and commitments that must be kept very precise,” Piero told Sky Italia. Source Goal"
Multiple players have been linked with a move to San Siro this summer in order to reduce his release clause but Ausilio states that there will be no such deal except for paying Lautaro’s release clause at full without any delays or installments. It is a one-time payment that any club wanting the Argentine’s services must pay fully.
"“It is a clause that expires in the early part of July so it won’t last for a long time. And it is the only possibility that exists to take Lautaro away from Inter today.”"
The sporting director has insisted that they are not actively looking to sell the player and see him as a vital part of their future and will not consider any other deals just because a club like Barca are pressuring them into a sale.
"He is an important asset of the club, and let’s not forget that he still has a three-year contract, Inter are not going to sell their most important players. We intend to keep them and eventually strengthen in the transfer market, and this also applies to Lautaro.” Ausilio continued."
Piero, however, has confirmed that multiple teams have inquired about the striker with Barca being the most tenacious and has stated again that the only way any one of them can acquire the 22-year-old is if they pay the release clause.
"“Many clubs have contacted us to address the Lautaro theme, among these, the most determined one, with whom we have a friendly and cordial relationship, is Barcelona. I don’t hide this. And I know that Barcelona knows perfectly well what our intentions are. Inter have no intention of selling Lautaro Martinez. Then, I repeat there is a clause.”"
Barca was struggling financially well before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic made matters worse for the Catalan giants. The club must now look to sell the many players that they have listed as ‘on sale’ for this transfer window in order to gain the 111 million euros to pay if they have any hopes of signing the Argentine forward.
Should Barca still sign Lautaro Martinez or should they look elsewhere? Perhaps to keep using Martin Braithwaite and Luis Suarez for another season could be the solution.