Barcelona turn to Lautaro Martinez after Julian Alvarez pursuit collapses
Barcelona have shifted their attention to Lautaro Martinez after accepting that Julian Alvarez is unlikely to leave Atletico Madrid, but Inter’s firm stance could make another striker search necessary.
Barcelona have made Lautaro Martinez their leading striker target after ending their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, but their latest plan faces another major obstacle.
The Catalan club spent weeks exploring a move for Alvarez, only for Atletico Madrid to repeatedly make it clear that their star forward would not be sold, even as the Argentina international’s future became increasingly uncertain.
With that route now effectively closed, Barcelona have switched their attention to Inter Milan captain Martinez, a player sporting director Deco reportedly views as a strong fit for Hansi Flick’s attack.
Recent reports indicate that contact has already been made with the striker’s representatives, although Barcelona have yet to submit a formal offer to Inter.
Martinez’s profile makes him an attractive option: the 28-year-old has established himself as one of Serie A’s leading forwards and remains central to Inter’s plans after helping the club compete for major honours.
However, Barcelona could find this pursuit even more difficult than the Alvarez operation. Inter have reportedly adopted an uncompromising position over their captain and do not want to consider his departure, particularly with the new season already approaching.
The Italian side are also building their campaign around Martinez, meaning Barcelona would likely need an exceptional proposal to even open serious discussions.
The situation leaves Deco facing a familiar problem as the transfer window enters its final stages. Barcelona urgently need another established centre-forward following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, but their preferred targets are proving difficult to prise away from their clubs.
If Inter refuse to negotiate, the Spanish champions may once again have to turn to alternatives such as Georges Mikautadze or other more attainable options.
