Barcelona considers Lautaro Martínez as backup option if Julián Álvarez deal falls through

Barcelona has a Plan B, and it wears the Inter Milan armband. The Catalan giants are eyeing Lautaro Martínez as their fallback striker option after negotiations for Julián Álvarez hit a wall, with Atlético Madrid refusing to budge on either availability or valuation.

Why Álvarez isn’t coming easy

Barcelona’s original plan was straightforward: sign Álvarez from Atlético Madrid to anchor the attack for years to come. That plan ran headfirst into Atlético’s asking price, which sources describe as elevated, and their general unwillingness to let the Argentine forward leave.

The club has reportedly scaled back its pursuit of Álvarez, pivoting toward alternatives rather than continuing to bang on a door that won’t open.

Martínez: the Inter Milan captain with 20-goal seasons

Lautaro Martínez is not exactly a consolation prize. The 28-year-old Argentine is Inter Milan’s captain and one of Serie A’s most consistent goalscorers, having notched 20 goals in a recent season.

Barcelona’s coaching staff appears to agree. Both manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco reportedly view Martínez favorably.

Martínez’s contract with Inter runs through 2029, giving the Italian club enormous leverage. Transfer fee estimates have floated in the range of €90M to €113M.

The Lewandowski succession plan

This entire striker search exists within a larger context: Barcelona is preparing for life after Robert Lewandowski. Martínez, at 28, would represent a multi-year solution at center forward.

Barcelona has also reportedly been monitoring Chelsea’s João Pedro as another alternative, though Martínez appears to sit higher on the club’s preference list.

What to watch this summer

In early August 2026, it became evident that Barcelona is ready to engage in discussions with Inter for Martínez. Inter’s negotiating position is strong, as a contract running to 2029 means they can name virtually any price and walk away if it isn’t met.

Both Álvarez and Martínez are Argentine internationals competing for positions in the national team, often contending with established stars.

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