One of the first names on the shopping list at Barcelona is reportedly interested in moving to Real Madrid despite Lionel Messi’s insistence.
Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez has become one of the most lethal goal scorers in Europe under Antonio Conte this season. The Argentina international has scored 13 goals and assisted 3 more in a highly effective partnership alongside Romelu Lukaku in the final-third that has seen him be the subject of interest for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Barcelona are interested in signing a replacement for Luis Suarez soon. The Uruguay international has aged and shown signs of inconsistency and depletion in quality over the last few seasons, and has even admitted himself that the club needs to scout for a successor. Lautaro Martinez, on Lionel Messi’s recommendation is a key target.
Real Madrid on the other hand signed Luka Jovic during the summer, but have not seen the best of the former Eintracht Frankfurt forward just yet. The fact that he has not had enough minutes is a point in his favour, but even when Jovic has played, he hasn’t performed like he did last year. Karim Benzema reaching the dusk of his career has seen Madrid eye Lautaro.
Diario GOL has claimed that in a turn of events, the former 22 year old has decided that he will favour a move to Real Madrid instead of Barcelona. Lautaro Martinez wants to play under Zinedine Zidane and believes that at Real Madrid, he will play around better and younger players over the years than as compared to the Blaugrana.
Lionel Messi has clearly felt betrayed over the decision of his compatriot, who he believed would come to the Camp Nou in 2020. Whether Lautaro Martinez actually wants a move to the Spanish capital remains to be seen because of the fact that the Whites will certainly give chances to Jovic, so if they have genuinely shown interest in Martinez is still not known.