Лаутаро Мартінес Getty Images
Barcelona President Joan Laporta confirmed that this summer the club will try to sign Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez. Prote Catalans quickly came to terms with this idea when it became clear that the Italian grandee would not let their leader go.
The honorable champions of Spain spent the transfer period actively searching for the classic number nine after Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres left the team. Barca initially tried to lure Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, and after that failed, they switched their attention to Martinez.
Once this option is closed, on the last day of the transfer window the club signed Gabriel Jesus from London Arsenal.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Laporta spoke about his direct negotiations with Inter general director Giuseppe Marotta:.
" Cebula Rozmova is just between us, without intermediaries. I told you that I’m already in love with this guy and I want to get Lautaro from my team. Ale Marotta without letting me finish. Having made it clear that Lautaro is not for sale, and that it cannot be sold, move on. So I stopped this whole line of thoughts, and there was no possibility to develop this idea,” said the functionary.
Unfazed by the transfer of Jesus, unwilling to resolve the problem in the attack, there was a problem among the team. At the start of the new season, Rafinha took on the role of center forward.. The Brazilian adapted phenomenally to his new position: in the first eight matches he scored 14 goals, including two hat-tricks after La Lisa before the international break.
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Varto notes that Barcelona is no longer interested in Martinez - he will be the main transfer target for the club in 2020 as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez. The Argentine himself said in the spring that the interest in such clubs is a source of great satisfaction,” and also said in his allegiance to Inter.
This season, Lautaro already has 4 goals in 4 Serie A matches, and his contract with Milan runs until 2029. Since moving from Argentine Racing in 2018, Zagal has scored 179 goals in 381 games for the Italian club, winning three Scudettos, three Italian Cups and two finals..