Barcelona were able to negotiate and agree personal terms with Lautaro Martinez thanks to Inter chief executive Giuseppe ‘Beppe’ Marotta according to a report from Italian news outlet CalcioMercato.com.
Marotta gave Barcelona permission to negotiate with the 22-year-old back at the end of January on the condition that Barcelona agreed to pay the Argentine national team striker’s €111 million release clause, something that the Blaugrana club agreed to.
However, due to the events that have occurred then, namely the Coronavirus crisis, Barcelona are no longer so sure of being able to hold up to their end of the bargain.
Barcelona would instead prefer to offer cash plus three players but Marotta has told them that there will be no negotiations on this basis. Inter have dropped their demands given the circumstances and have made it clear to Barcelona that they want at least €90 million plus a player or players.
The report goes on to explain that Lautaro dreams of playing alongside Lionel Messi at club level but at the same time he has come to realise that leaving Inter now may be wrong and he has chosen to remain in silence.
