Martinez confirms Barca interest, stays at Inter

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has publicly confirmed that Barcelona expressed interest in signing him during the recent summer transfer window but stated his commitment remains firmly with his current club. The Argentina international addressed the speculation at the Gran Galà del Calcio awards ceremony on September 2, 2026, speaking to Sky Italia. Martinez, 29, acknowledged that the rumors linking him to the Catalan club were accurate. He described the interest from Barcelona as an "honour" and "gratifying," noting that such attention reflects his career progression. However, he emphasized his decision to stay in Milan. "In my head everything is already clear. Right now my life is in Milan, I chose to stay at Inter because I feel good here and I want to stay and do even better," Martinez said. Barcelona reportedly turned their attention to Martinez after failing to secure their primary target, Julian Alvarez, from Atletico Madrid. The Spanish club was seeking a forward following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Arsenal coach Gabriel Heinze also reportedly reached out to Martinez to explore a potential move to the Premier League club.