Lautaro Martinez: Inter Milan tell Barcelona to pay £100m for Argentine forward
- Lautaro Martinez has been given green light to join Barcelona
- Inter Milan have cleared the Argentine to move to Spain only if the Catalans can pay £100m
- Martinez has been linked with the La Liga giants all season long after making an impression this campaign
Inter Milan have given Barcelona green light to sign Lautaro Martinez only if they can meet his valuation this summer.
The Argentine has been heavily linked with a move to join the Spanish League giants but are faced with a financial burden.
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio clearly stated that the La Liga outfit must trigger the 22-year-old's £100 million release clause if they really want his services as reported by SunSport.
Martinez scored 16 times in 31 appearances across competitions this campaign but his side has slipped nine points behind leaders Juventus with 12 matches to go.
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He has been touted as the long term replacement for aging Luis Suarez with the Uruguyan battling with injuries lately.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are planning to include seven players in the deal to ensure the Serie A side lower the price tag.
He told Sky Sport Italia: "The reality of the situation with Martinez is that there's only one path to take him away from Inter and that is to pay the release clause.
"It's a clause everyone knows about, there's no point hiding. It is a difficult clause because it has certain deadlines and some very precise demands.
"First and foremost, the clause expires in early July, so does not last very long. It's the only possible way right now that we won't see Lautaro Martinez at Inter next season.
"We are not discussing the Lautaro issue with anyone, because quite simply we are relying on him, he is an important asset for the club and let us not forget he still has two years left on his contract with Inter.
"We don't have any intention of selling our best players, but rather to reinforce ourselves on the market."
Coach Quique Setien earlier showered praises on the Argentine, saying he is one of the few players capable of working with Lionel Messi.
He said: "It’s clear that there are four or five players who play in that position that are extraordinary and that any of them could be at Barcelona.
“[Martinez] is a player who would be very good in this team, like other players of his level.”
Legit.ng earlier reported that Barcelona captain Lionel Messi had called Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez in his efforts to convince his fellow countryman to move to the Camp Nou this summer.
This latest development is according to Racing’s president of youth football Adrian Ruben Fernandez who claimed that a move for Martinez to Barcelona is close.
Chiefs at the Nou Camp have been eyeing a move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez since last summer in which they are still planning to go for his signature.
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Source: Legit.ng
