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Lautaro Martínez in a match with Inter Milan

LAPORTA WANTS TO SIGN A 'TOP' FORWARD

The Argentine 'crack' who would be in FC Barcelona's sights for the summer of 2025

Published:18/09/2024 - 22:13h

Updated:18/09/2024 - 22:13h

The FC Barcelona board has made it a priority to sign a top striker for next summer. After the failure of the 'Nico Williams operation', in Italy they point to Lautaro Martínez as Joan Laporta's next target

Calendar of FC Barcelona

Joan Laporta hopes to hit the table in the summer of 2025 with at least a couple of 'top' signings for FC Barcelona. After two summers with serious limitations to strengthen due to the financial 'Fair Play', the Barça board is confident of having enough salary margin and money in the next summer market to negotiate without problems. In principle, the culé president seems determined to incorporate a 'killer', given the need to find a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

According to the latest information, the president of Barça has set his sights on Lautaro Martínez as a possible successor to 'Lewy'. The Argentine international has been in the Barça orbit for several years, but various factors have prevented the club from negotiating with Inter Milan, where he has established himself as a world figure. The one from Bahía Blanca was the Pichichi of Serie A last season, where he managed to lift his second 'scudetto' with the 'nerazzurri' team.

Lautaro's renewal would not be an obstacle for Barça

In principle, Inter would have no intention of letting its captain go, but the club's financial problems may precipitate the departure of several of its stars in 2025. Despite the good results obtained during Simone Inzaghi's cycle, the club changed owner this year, carrying a debt of almost 400 million euros under the leadership of Chinese businessman Steven Zhang. The American fund Oaktree took control of the Milan team, following unfulfilled payments by Zhang.

However, Lautaro renewed this summer with the Nerazzurri for three more years, until June 2029, with a salary increase that will allow him to earn a net net income of 9 million euros this season. The 27-year-old forward's contract expired in 2026, but his renewal would not be an obstacle for Barça if they decided to enter the bidding for his signing, since Inter's financial situation would force him to accept a lower offer, perhaps due to less than 100 'kilos'.

The Argentine is currently listed on Transfermarkt for around 110M and his renewal represents an act of good faith that, finally, will force the club to facilitate his departure for a reasonable price if the '10' asks to leave. Martínez arrived in Milan in 2018 from Racing de Avellaneda and has 129 goals and 43 assists in 285 official matches. Despite having million-dollar offers from Arabia and the MLS, the one from Bahía Blanca prioritizes staying in the elite and, if he receives a call from Joan Laporta, he would have a good chance of moving to Catalonia in 2025.