Barcelona have begun preparing their backup plan to reinforce the striker position in the final days of the transfer window, in anticipation of the failure of their ongoing attempt to sign Julián Álvarez from Atlético Madrid, with a new Argentine name emerging at the top of the candidates list.
Journalist Gerard Romero revealed that Lautaro Martínez has become the chosen player inside Barcelona, and that the Catalan club is prepared to exert all its efforts to sign him if the door for Álvarez is closed permanently.
Cristian Camino, a journalist for the Argentine network TNT, added that Barcelona could move to spend more than $100 million on the Inter captain if the Julián Álvarez situation does not see a breakthrough in the coming hours.
However, Barcelona’s enthusiasm quickly collided with a firm stance from Italy, as Sky Sport confirmed that Lautaro is not for sale, and that Inter considers its captain an untouchable element within the sporting project.
Journalist Gianluca Di Marzio explained that Inter has not received any contact from Barcelona or the player’s agents regarding a potential deal, which means the matter has not progressed beyond the thinking phase inside the Catalan club so far, while the Italian champion closed the door before any official offer arrived.
Inter’s position makes Barcelona’s mission even more complex, especially since Lautaro’s contract extends until June 2029, alongside his high standing within the team after transforming from a promising striker into a captain and icon for the club since his transfer from Racing Club in the summer of 2018.
The Argentine striker had a strong season in Serie A, scoring 17 goals and providing 6 assists in 30 matches. He also possesses vast experience in big matches, along with winning the World Cup and Copa América with his national team.
Lautaro was not Barcelona’s first choice, as the club had placed Julián Álvarez at the top of its priorities for several months, taking advantage of the player’s stated desire to move to Camp Nou. However, Atlético Madrid held firm on not selling him and refused to discuss offers whose reported value reached €100 million and more.
The search for a new striker has become urgent following the departure of Robert Lewandowski at the end of last season, followed by Ferran Torres’s move to Paris Saint-Germain, which left manager Hansi Flick without a natural striker before the start of the season.
The center-forward file has turned into a series of closed doors for Barcelona, as João Pedro was one of the candidate names before the Brazilian striker renewed his contract with Chelsea and received a salary increase, making his departure from Stamford Bridge nearly impossible.
Colombian Luis Suárez also appeared among the available alternatives after impressing with Sporting CP and finishing as the top scorer in the Portuguese league with 28 goals, but his club refuses to sell him for less than his €80 million release clause.
