The January window may have just closed, but Inter is already working to acquire a player for the future. The nerazzurri are trying to close the deal for Lautaro Martinez, the promising striker born in ‘97 currently playing for Racing Avallenada. Martinez is considered to be one of the best talents in South America, as a matter of fact Sampaoli is considering the possibility of taking him to the World Cup in Russia- Inter have been pursuing the central striker for months despite the fact that Atletico Madrid have been in pole position to acquire him for quite some time.
Atletico Madrid had agreed to terms with Martinez and even gave him a medical, but they failed to reach an agreement with Racing, leaving the door open for Inter to join the race. The nerazzurri’s vice president Javier Zanetti has been working on the deal for days, and after meeting with Martinez’ agents in Italy, Inter feels confident they have the player’s approval for the transfer so much so that sporting director Piero Ausilio left for Argentina to close the deal for €15 million plus bonuses, a figure very close to the amount of the striker’s exit clause.
While Atletico Madrid haven’t given up on signing Martinez, Inter can count on their historic affinity with Argentinian players, on top of Javier Zanetti’s presence, there’s the fact that their former striker Diego Milito is Racing Avellaneda’s current sporting director and will even have Rodrigo Palacio, who is from Martinez home town of Bahia Blanca put in a good word. Inter are working on closing the deal for one of Argentina’s top prospects.
Report by Fabrizio Romano
