Lautaro Martínez admitted the Barcelona rumours had substance when speaking at the Gran Gala del Calcio on 2 September 2026, where he was named Serie A’s best attacker for the 2025/26 season. He also insisted that he is happy at Inter and wants to stay.
- Martínez said that kind of approach is flattering and confirmed there had been contact from Barcelona.
- The update points to genuine interest rather than a formal bid, agreement or active transfer negotiations.
- Inter remain Martínez’s priority, with the striker saying he would stay for as long as the club want him.
Lautaro Martínez’s Current Situation
Lautaro Martínez is still very much an active Inter player, and his latest comments point far more towards him staying than a move away. Speaking after collecting his award at the Gran Gala del Calcio, he accepted that the Barcelona talk was genuine and described that level of interest as flattering.
Martínez’s own position was the most telling part of the update: he said he has a contract, is happy at Inter and chose to stay because he wants to achieve more there.
Barcelona’s Search for a Striker
Barcelona’s interest made sense in the context of their search for a centre-forward. Their attempt to move for Julián Álvarez had stalled after Atlético Madrid refused to negotiate, leaving the club looking at other options in that position.
Robert Lewandowski’s departure and Ferran Torres’s likely move to Paris Saint-Germain added to that need, so Martínez emerged as a plausible alternative. His experience as an attacking focal point and his ability to contribute to build-up play help explain why his name entered the picture, even if there is still no sign that a move is currently in progress.
Inter Remain Martínez’s Priority
He described Inter as a source of pride and happiness and said he had chosen once again to stay because he wants to do great things with the club.
He also made it clear that, as things stand, he intends to remain for as long as Inter want him. Martínez acknowledged that football can change quickly, but this was not the sound of a player pushing towards the exit. If anything, it underlined why Barcelona looked at him in the first place: his standing at Inter is reflected in 175 goals, 56 assists and 378 appearances, and his current message still points to a prolonged stay at San Siro rather than an imminent transfer.
