Barcelona have reportedly made Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez their new priority target as the Catalan club intensify their search for a top class striker before the close of the summer transfer window.
The Spanish giants have shifted their attention to the Argentina international after their pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez failed to produce the desired breakthrough. With Alvarez increasingly unlikely to leave Madrid this summer, Barcelona have identified Martinez as another elite option capable of leading their attack.
The change in direction signals Barcelona’s determination to add an established central striker to Hansi Flick’s squad. The club have already lost Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres from their attacking group, creating a significant gap that the coaching staff and sporting department believe needs to be addressed before the new campaign progresses.
According to reports from Spanish transfer insider Gerard Romero, Barcelona have opened negotiations around a possible move for Martinez and believe there could be an opportunity to convince the Argentine forward to consider a switch to Camp Nou.
The development represents a major escalation in Barcelona’s interest. While Martinez has been linked with the Catalan club on several occasions in the past, the current approach appears considerably more serious, with sporting director Deco reportedly working directly on the possibility of bringing the Inter captain to Spain.
Deco is understood to have met Martinez’s representative, Alejandro Camano, in Madrid in recent days. The meeting is believed to have provided Barcelona with an opportunity to understand the player’s position and assess whether he would be open to a move away from Serie A.
Reports indicate that Martinez’s representatives have not completely closed the door on the possibility of a transfer. That could provide Barcelona with the opening they need, although persuading Inter to sanction the move would be an entirely different challenge.
Inter have no current intention of selling their captain.
Martinez recently renewed his contract with the Italian club, and one of the important changes in the new agreement was the removal of a €120 million release clause that had previously been included for a limited period.
With that clause now gone, Barcelona cannot simply trigger a predetermined fee and take control of the situation. Any potential transfer would require direct negotiations with Inter, giving the Serie A club considerable leverage.
The Nerazzurri are expected to demand a substantial fee for their captain, particularly because Martinez remains one of the most important players in their squad.
The Argentine forward has developed into a key figure at Inter since joining the club and has established himself as one of Europe’s most reliable attacking players. His combination of movement, finishing ability, technical quality and tactical intelligence makes him an attractive option for Flick’s system.
For Barcelona, Martinez could provide several qualities they have been missing since the beginning of their search for Lewandowski’s successor.
Barcelona’s interest also highlights the difficulties they have encountered in the transfer market.
The club initially focused heavily on Alvarez, but Atletico Madrid rejected a €100 million proposal and remain determined to keep their striker. That refusal forced Barcelona to consider alternative solutions, with Martinez now emerging as their preferred option.
Other strikers have also been discussed. Barcelona previously explored moves for Joao Pedro and Junior Kroupi, while players such as Lautaro Martinez, Luis Suarez and Benjamin Sesko have been assessed in different stages of their recruitment process.
Financial limitations, however, have complicated several of those possibilities.
Martinez could therefore represent Barcelona’s most ambitious remaining option. The major question is whether the club can afford the kind of transfer fee required to convince Inter to even consider selling their captain.
Barcelona must also determine how they would structure the deal within their financial constraints. A transfer involving one of Europe’s leading strikers would require careful planning, particularly given the club’s recent efforts to balance squad investment with financial regulations.
For Inter, the situation is equally significant.
Losing Martinez would create a huge hole in their attack and potentially force the club into the transfer market for a replacement at a time when elite strikers are difficult and expensive to acquire.
The player’s status as captain also adds another layer to the situation. Inter are not merely protecting a valuable asset but attempting to retain one of the central figures in their project.
Everything could ultimately depend on Barcelona’s offer and Martinez’s willingness to push for the move.
If the Argentine makes it clear that he wants to join Barcelona, Inter could face a difficult decision. However, with no release clause protecting Barcelona’s interests, the Italian club would remain in a strong negotiating position.
For now, Barcelona appear determined to explore every possibility.
After failing to break Atletico Madrid’s resistance over Alvarez, Deco and Flick have turned their attention to one of Serie A’s most influential forwards. Whether the pursuit develops into a formal offer remains to be seen, but the reported meeting with Martinez’s representatives suggests Barcelona are already laying the groundwork for a potentially major transfer.
The final weeks of the transfer window could therefore become decisive for both clubs. Barcelona want a new attacking leader, while Inter are desperate to keep theirs.
