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Lionel Messi has admitted that he would like his compatriot Lautaro Martínez to join him in Barcelona.
The 22-year-old Martinez has played alongside Messi on the front line of Argentina since he made his international debut in 2018, and at the time, both have found the back of the net nine times for the national team.
Martínez was a regular scorer at Racing Club in Argentina, earning him the move to Inter in a matter of days after Argentina was eliminated from the 2018 World Cup by France.
Barcelona have battled for a top scorer this season, with Luis Suárez injured for much of the season. Suarez’s injury, combined with what was supposed to be a season-ending injury for Ousmane Dembele, prompted Martin Braithwaite’s emergency signing to provide depth to the attack line.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Messi admitted that he was not sure if the club had been looking for Martínez or not, and said: “I am not sure if there were or are negotiations at this time for him, I have no idea.”
But he insisted that the club should keep an eye on his talented compatriot, adding: “I think I have already mentioned that Lautaro is an impressive striker, especially because I think he is very complete. He is strong, dribbles well, can score, knows how to protect the ball. But we will have to see what happens to him and other names that have been linked. “
Even if Uruguayan talisman Suarez hadn’t been injured, the club probably would have been trying to get a long-term replacement for the 33-year-old. Antoine Griezmann has rarely been adopted as the most advanced player for Barça, and the same could be said for Messi himself.
If Martinez were considered the ideal heir, it certainly wouldn’t be cheap. Since joining Italian giant Inter, he has scored at an impressive pace, uniting well with Romelu Lukaku this season.
However, in the current COVID-19 climate, finances are likely to be tighter when soccer finally returns, putting lucrative transfers like this at risk.
