Lautaro Martinez admits he would have been overjoyed to welcome Lionel Messi to Inter.
Inter were one of a few clubs linked with a potential move for Messi during last summer’s transfer window, before the 33-year-old agreed to see out the final year of his contract at Barcelona.
Lautaro already has the privilege of being Messi’s teammate with Argentina’s national team, but the prospect of playing alongside him at club level as well was enthralling.
“It would have been dream for me if he’d joined,” Lautaro told Sport Magazine, as quoted by Italian news outlet FCInter1908.it.
“Playing with him is great as Messi is the best player in the world.
“I am happy to be able to play with him in the national team.
“We young people look up to and listen to him.”
The 23-year-old then spoke on how he copes with persistent speculation regarding his own future, which seems to follow him everywhere regardless of where he goes.
Lautaro was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona last summer, but the Catalan giants never presented a satisfactory offer.
“It’s hard to deal with,” he revealed.
“If I go out to eat somewhere, I hear people talking about me.
“The same happens when I go to the bathroom.
“I have to be very strong mentally.”
Lautaro has netted 12 goals and provided six assists in 29 appearances for Inter this season, most recently scoring the Nerazzurri’s opener in their 2-1 defeat to Juventus during Tuesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final first leg.
He is expected to be rested by Antonio Conte tomorrow when Inter visit Fiorentina for matchday 21 of their Serie A campaign.
