Mercato: Barcelona Targets Lautaro Martinez If Julian Alvarez Deal Falls Through

FC Barcelona continues to pursue Julian Alvarez as their primary offensive target for the summer transfer window. However, the Catalan club has reportedly identified Lautaro Martinez as a viable alternative should negotiations with Atlético de Madrid prove unsuccessful. The Inter Milan striker is once again on Barcelona's radar, though no direct contact has been made yet.

Barcelona has a backup plan for their attacking reinforcement. While the club has been actively seeking Julian Alvarez from Atlético de Madrid for several weeks, they have now identified an alternative in case their primary pursuit fails. According to Mundo Deportivo, Lautaro Martinez is being considered by Barcelona's management to bolster their offense, should Atlético's financial demands force Barcelona to explore other options.

Julian Alvarez remains the club's top priority, despite the challenges surrounding his acquisition. Diego Simeone, the renowned coach of Atlético, recently stated that the Argentine forward is not for sale. The CEO of the Madrid club also revealed last month that Atlético had rejected a substantial €100 million offer from Barcelona for their player.

Lautaro Martinez: A Familiar Target for Barcelona

Lautaro Martinez offers the advantage of being a profile already recognized by FC Barcelona. The Argentine international, with 84 caps and 40 goals for his country, has previously been on the Catalan club's shortlist. A winner of the 2022 World Cup and runner-up in 2026, the 28-year-old striker has been playing for Inter Milan since 2018.

For the Nerazzurri, Lautaro Martinez has played 376 matches and scored 177 goals. These statistics make him a particularly strong option for Barcelona, which is in need of offensive reinforcement following Robert Lewandowski's departure to MLS this summer.

However, this pursuit is still in its early stages of consideration. According to the Spanish daily, no contact has been made to date between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan, nor with the Argentine striker's representatives. Lautaro Martinez also extended his contract with the Italian club in 2024, a deal that ties him to the Nerazzurri until June 2029.