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Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martínez has revealed he received an offer from Barcelona during the summer transfer window, while reports also indicate Arsenal made contact to explore a possible move.
The 29-year-old Argentine is one of the most lethal strikers in European football, netting 22 goals across all competitions last season as Inter claimed the Serie A title.
Martínez, who has been at the Nerazzurri since 2018, has consistently been the subject of transfer rumors, yet has remained steadfastly devoted to the club he joined after leaving Argentina as a young player.
This past summer, Barcelona were among the sides linked with the 2022 World Cup champion as they looked to find a new focal point for their attack following Robert Lewandowski's departure. While much of the attention centered on Barça's highly publicized pursuit of fellow Argentine Julián Alvarez, their interest in Martínez apparently carried more weight than most had assumed.
Speaking at the Gran Gala del Calcio—the Italian FA's annual ceremony celebrating the finest performers of the previous campaign—Martínez was open about the La Liga champions' interest in him.
Martínez: Barça Approach an 'Honor'
When asked by Sky Italia about Barcelona's reported interest, he said: "It's certainly a great pleasure, a great honor, and an enormous satisfaction because you always work to improve, to move forward, to become better."
Explaining why he turned down the approach from one of football's most prestigious clubs, Martínez pointed to his deep bond with Inter as a club and his affection for Milan as a city.
"When these offers or calls from massive clubs come in, they're always flattering. It's a very significant thing," he went on. "Right now I'm in a city that has embraced me in an incredible way from the very beginning. I have a restaurant here, my children attend school here. I'll always be here because I feel good, because I'm happy."
"You never know in football. As long as they want me, those who are needed at Inter will be here. Of course, as I always say, it happens in every profession. When you're no longer needed, eventually they let you go. Right now I'm here with everything I have, just as I was from day one."
"The rumors were true. But ultimately, I wanted to stay here with my teammates, with these people, with these fans who have always been absolutely wonderful to me."
On Wednesday evening, Martínez was named in the Serie A Team of the Year 2025–26, alongside four of his Inter teammates, and also claimed the Best Forward award.
Arsenal's Late Move for Martínez
Barcelona were not the only club to make inquiries about the two-time Serie A top scorer this summer, with Premier League champions Arsenal also reportedly receiving a rejection.
The Daily Mail reports that as the Gunners sought attacking reinforcements late in the transfer window, assistant manager Gabriel Heinze reached out to his compatriot at Inter last week. However, the approach led nowhere, with Inter "refusing to entertain any kind of deal" for Martínez.
Notably, the report suggests it was the club rather than the player who shut down the proposal, and there is no indication of what the outcome might have been had Arsenal made their move earlier in the window, when Inter may have had time to secure a replacement.
Martínez still has three years remaining on his current contract at San Siro.
Barcelona closed the window without landing a high-profile striker, as Alvarez stayed at Atlético Madrid, though they did bring in Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal for approximately €10 million ($11.5 million). The Gunners, meanwhile, made no late additions to their attacking options before the transfer deadline on Sept. 1.