Lionel Messi has informed Barcelona to attempt to sign his Argentine teammate and Inter striker Lautaro Martinez, say reports.
El Mundo Deportivo cite Corriere dello Sport in reporting that Messi would essentially act as a ‘Godfather’ for the 22-year-old striker, who only joined the Milanese giants in 2018 – signing from Racing Club in Argentina for €23m.
The striker has netted seven Serie A goals across 33 appearances for the Nerazzurri and once across seven appearances in Europe.
He has started five of the first seven matches for Antonio Conte’s side this season but his fellow countryman Mauro Icardi has departed to Paris Saint-Germain, with Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez both joining.
“Talk of Barcelona’s interest is true,” the player’s agent Alberto Yaque told Ole back in July.
“No-one’s called us, but we know that they’ve been looking at him strongly. It’s true that Barcelona like him.”
Martinez is set to start for Inter in tonight’s Champions League clash with Barcelona, with both sides aiming for their first victory of their respective European campaigns.
It has been previously claimed that Martinez’s market value is now in excess of €100m.
