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Barcelona's stunning goalscoring run at the start of the 2026–27 campaign has cast doubt on the club's prolonged pursuit of a new striker during the summer transfer window.
Barça's pursuit of Atlético Madrid's Julián Alvarez was widely reported, with the standoff between the two La Liga sides becoming one of the defining sagas of the summer window.
Having failed to land Alvarez, La Blaugrana eventually brought in Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal for €10 million ($11.25 million) on Deadline Day, though the 29-year-old was always seen as a squad depth option rather than a first-choice signing.
Barça faced criticism for lacking a 'plan B' following their failure to sign Alvarez. However, club president Joan Laporta has now disclosed that the club did have alternative targets and made a serious approach for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martínez.
'He Didn't Let Me Finish'—Laporta's Request Falls Flat
In an interview with Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Laporta revealed he personally reached out to Inter president Beppe Marotta to inquire about the Serie A top scorer's availability, only to be firmly rebuffed.
"Lautaro is a phenomenal player. We wanted him at Barça at any cost," Laporta confessed. "I'll tell you exactly how it went. One day I called Beppe Marotta directly. Just the two of us, no middlemen. I told him I'd be thrilled to have Lautaro in my squad and that I truly admired the player.
"He didn't even let me finish. He made it crystal clear that the player was not available and that it wouldn't be his decision alone whether he left or not. So I dropped all discussions. There was simply no way to take it further.
"Marotta and I share a relationship built on mutual trust. We didn't push any further out of respect for him and for Inter."
Lautaro Backs Up Barça Interest
This is not the first time Barcelona's interest in Martínez has been brought up publicly, as the player himself recently confirmed the speculation.
When asked about Barcelona's reported interest at the Gran Gala del Calcio—the Italian FA's annual ceremony celebrating the finest performers from the previous season—he responded: "It's certainly a great pleasure, a tremendous honor, and an immense source of satisfaction, because you always work to improve, to push forward, to become a better player.
"When these offers or calls from such elite clubs come in, they are always welcome. It's a very significant thing. Right now I'm in a city that has embraced me in an extraordinary way from the very beginning. I have a restaurant here, my children attend school here. I'll always be here because I feel at home and because I'm happy.
"The rumors were true. But ultimately, I chose to stay here with my teammates, with these people, with these fans who have always been absolutely wonderful to me."
Martínez has hit the ground running in the 2026–27 season, netting four goals in four Serie A outings.