Key Takeaways:
- Last summer, Barcelona made a direct approach to sign Inter captain Lautaro Martinez
- Inter firmly rejected the transfer, despite Lautaro reportedly being open to a move
- Joan Laporta also discussed Cesc Fabregas’s coaching future and expressed satisfaction with Hansi Flick’s management
Barcelona’s Efforts to Land Lautaro Martinez
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that the club made a serious bid to sign Inter’s captain Lautaro Martinez during the most recent summer transfer window. Laporta clarified that he made a personal call to Inter chairman Beppe Marotta to explore the possibility of a deal, but was informed that the Argentine forward was not available for transfer.
While Barcelona were assessing options to replace Robert Lewandowski amid difficulties in securing Julian Alvarez, their focus shifted to Lautaro. Laporta described the Inter captain as an “incredible player” and underscored Barça’s determination to bring him to Camp Nou. Despite their strong interest, Inter’s refusal to allow Lautaro to leave halted any further negotiations.
🚨🔵🔴 Barcelona president Laporta: “I’ve tried in every way to get Lautaro Martínez in August”.
“He’s an excellent striker, we wanted him at Barça. I personally called Inter president Marotta and he immediately stopped me: no chance”.
“He was not for sale and I respect Inter… pic.twitter.com/lFm6HR2LTR
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 30, 2026
Decision-Making and Mutual Respect
Laporta noted that Lautaro appeared open to a potential move to Barcelona, but emphasised the importance of respecting Inter’s firm stance. The Barcelona president acknowledged Marotta’s position and highlighted the professional relationship between the clubs:
“He’s an incredible player; we didn’t want to let him slip away at any cost. So I rang President Marotta and he told me the player wasn’t for sale,” he told Corriere dello Sport.
“Inter told us ‘no’ and so we told them that, in any case, it wouldn’t be the player who decided whether or not to leave, because Inter wanted to keep him.
“So, out of respect for Beppe Marotta, whom I respect enormously, we stopped and that was the end of it,” Laporta revealed.
Fabregas’s Coaching Potential and Current Management
Laporta was also questioned about Cesc Fabregas, who has been reported as a possible managerial candidate at Barcelona in the future given his work with Como. The president confirmed that the club is closely observing Fabregas’s progress but currently has no plans to alter the coaching staff. Laporta expressed admiration for Fabregas’s achievements and ties to the club, while reaffirming their satisfaction with current manager Hansi Flick:
“He’s one of our own, and we’re very pleased with the success he’s enjoying at Como. He fully deserves it. We’re looking forward to welcoming him back to the Camp Nou.
“Fabregas knows our mentality and Barça’s vision better than anyone. He grew up here, and this will always be his home, and we like his approach to football.
“Right now, however, we have a great manager in Flick. And you’ve already seen what he’s capable of.”
Barça’s Sporting Project and Leadership
To conclude, Laporta shared his contentment with Barcelona’s current trajectory, particularly praising Flick’s early impact. Nonetheless, he urged the squad and staff to avoid complacency as they strive to maintain their place among Europe’s elite:
“We’ve given the world a scare once again. This manager has won us over.
“But internally, we also tell ourselves to ‘fly low’, to ‘fly close to the ground’. No complacency – we must fight for everything,” he concluded.
