Barcelona, one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in the world, has a long history of signing some of the best players in the game. In recent years, they have been on the hunt for a new striker to replace Luis Suarez, and one player who was very close to joining the Catalan giants was Lautaro Martinez.
Martinez, a young and talented striker from Argentina, was playing for Inter Milan in the Serie A when Barcelona first showed interest in him. In fact, the Catalan club was so impress with his performances that they were willing to pay a staggering €100 million for him at one point.
The negotiations between Barcelona and Inter Milan went on for several weeks. It seemed like a deal was almost done. Martinez was reportedly keen on joining Barcelona, and the Catalan club was ready to meet Inter Milan’s asking price. However, at the last minute, Barcelona decided to pull out of the deal. Citing financial difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read More: Barcelona might be ready to sell Eric Garcia
Would Lautaro Martinez played for Barcelona
This was a huge blow for Martinez, who had set his heart on joining Barcelona. It was also a disappointment for Barcelona fans, who hoping to see the Argentine striker in action at Camp Nou. However, in hindsight, it may have been a blessing in disguise for both parties.
Martinez has gone on to become one of the best strikers in the Serie A, scoring goals for fun and helping Inter Milan win the league title in the 2020-21 season. He has also become a regular in the Argentina national team and is widely regard as one of the brightest young talents in world football.
Meanwhile, Barcelona has struggled to find a reliable striker since Luis Suarez’s departure. The Catalan club has gone through a number of options. Including Antoine Griezmann, Martin Braithwaite, and Memphis Depay, but none of them have been able to replicate Suarez’s goalscoring prowess.
In fact, Barcelona’s financial difficulties have only worsened since they pulled out of the Martinez deal. The club is currently in massive debt. They have had to let go of several key players, including Lionel Messi. Who joined Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021.
