Barcelona were a step away from signing Inter Milan captain in a €60m agreement

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, it has come to light that Barcelona once came incredibly close to signing Lautaro Martinez, now a key figure at Inter Milan. 

The outlet mentions that the transfer was all but agreed before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world—and Barcelona’s plans—to a sudden halt.

The story began in May 2019, when Barcelona had just suffered a painful Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool. 

Around the same time, Luis Suarez underwent surgery without the full knowledge or consent of the club’s medical staff. 

This surprise move forced Barcelona’s decision-makers to urgently begin searching for a replacement. “We have to go for Lautaro and Luis, he’s leaving,” was the message that was discussed within the club.

What followed next?

In the months that followed, Barcelona focused on assessing the striker’s willingness to join the club. By March 2020, serious progress had been made. 

Two Barcelona executives travelled to Miami to meet with the player’s representatives. During this trip, both parties reached an agreement on personal terms. 

With the player now fully on board, Barcelona’s next step was to negotiate directly with Inter Milan to finalise the transfer.

Pandemic fallout derailed the plans

Barcelona had set aside around €60 million to secure Martinez’s signature, a sum they believed would be enough to strike a deal with Inter. However, their Miami trip would prove to be ill-timed. 

Just as things were falling into place, the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly escalated. Governments began closing airspace and ordering citizens to remain indoors. 

The two club executives had to urgently return to Spain as international travel shut down.

Initially, Barcelona believed the lockdown might only last a few weeks. But the financial reality worsened fast. 

The club lost significant revenue almost overnight due to the closure of the Camp Nou stadium and its museum, two of its most important income sources. 

With earnings taking a massive hit, Barcelona were forced to abandon their plans to sign Martinez.