Deco: ‘Barcelona wanted Lautaro Martinez, but Inter refused to sell’

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 05: Lautaro Martinez of Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Barcelona director Deco confirms they tried to sign Lautaro Martinez this summer, but ‘when Inter told us he was not for sale, we never contacted the player or his agent. We still like him, though.’

The transfer story erupted in Spanish and Argentinean media when Barcelona saw first choice Julian Alvarez blocked by Atletico Madrid, but the Italian news sources were always confident Lautaro Martinez would be going nowhere.

That proved to be accurate, as the striker is the captain and key figure of the team that won the Serie A and Coppa Italia last season, also reaching the World Cup Final with Argentina.

Deco confirms Lautaro Martinez approach

“Lautaro is an idol for Inter and we have a lot of respect for that,” Deco told Sportitalia and Sky Sport Italia today.

“I think he is a fantastic player, spectacular, an icon, a legend of Inter and their captain.”

Barcelona had to at least make an attempt for the centre-forward, who was also Capocannoniere of Serie A last term.

“The moment the club told us that he was not for sale, we didn’t try to go beyond that, and we didn’t talk about it anymore. We try to do things fairly and clearly. At times there is speculation in the media, but the clubs know how things really went.”

The Spanish media had suggested that Lautaro Martinez and his entourage already agreed personal terms with the Blaugrana.

“Look, it’s true that Lautaro Martinez was one of the players that we thought might be suited to Barca. However, when my President spoke to the Inter President, we were told he was not available, so we respected that and went no further,” assured Deco.

“We never contacted the player or his agent.”

Having said all of that, Deco won’t deny that it might not be the last time Barcelona try to tempt Lautaro Martinez.

“He is a player that we liked and we still like. I personally like him very much.”