Lautaro Martinez has been put off a potential move to Barcelona by the Lionel Messi saga and could sign a new contract at Inter Milan, according to reports.
The Inter Milan striker has been strongly linked with a move to the Camp Nou over the past few months and was widely considered to be the long-term successor to Luis Suarez in the centre forward spot.
Barcelona are having a mass exodus of first-team stars under new coach Ronald Koeman, who has reportedly told Suarez that he no longer has a future at the club – while Messi rocked the Catalans this week by handing in a transfer request.
And according to Corriere dello Sport in Italy, Martinez no longer wants the Barcelona move following the turmoil currently brewing at the Camp Nou.
Following Barcelona’s 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final on August 14, the Catalans sacked head coach Quique Setien and replaced him with Koeman just two days later.
Reports then emerged that first-team stars such as Suarez and Arturo Vidal were told they were no longer required at the club, before a bombshell was dropped by Messi on Tuesday stating that the Barcelona captain wants to leave the club on a free transfer.
The toxic summer could get even worse for Barcelona, with the same report statng that Inter, who confirmed that head coach Antonio Conte will be staying at the club for the coming season, will attempt to try and tie Martinez down to a new contract.
The 23-year-old had a £100million release clause in his Inter Milan contract which expired over the summer.
His proposed new deal could eradicate any chance of a release clause in the future, meaning Barcelona would have to pay the market price for the Inter striker.
Martinez scored 21 goals in 49 appearances for Conte’s side last season, who finished one point behind Serie A winners Juventus and reached the Europa League final in Cologne.
He moved to Milan from Argentinian side Racing Club for a £20million fee in July 2018.
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