Inter forward Lautaro Martínez is now having second thoughts about joining Barcelona this summer, unimpressed by the club’s handling of Lionel Messi’s transfer request.
Martinez has been heavily linked with a move to the Camp Nou all year, with rumors just months ago that he had already verbally committed to joining Barca and Inter to tie him down to a new deal. The advance was rejected.
Martinez’s move to the Camp Nou was once thought to be near completion / Pier Marco Taka/Getty Images
However, that was before things started to fall apart. An 8-2 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich left Barcelona reeling, with the biggest problem being dealing with Messi’s desire to leave the club.
Messi’s desire to leave has been ignored by Barcelona, who have refused to even discuss lowering his £624m release clause from the Argentine, and Corriere dello Sport (via Daily Mail ) According to , Martinez is a little worried about it.
Barcelona have been in a lot of turmoil at the moment, with it even being suggested that Martinez could sign a new contract at the San Siro, leaving any hopes of him being signed by the La Liga side all but gone. will be done
Barça boss Ronald Koeman is looking to trim his squad to make room for the likes of Martinez, with striker Luis Suarez and midfielder Arturo Vidal among the players Koeman has personally informed he has no future at the club. .
Messi’s situation scares Martinez/Pool/Getty Images
Vidal in particular did not hold back in his criticism of the club, complaining to Daniel Habev that Barcelona’s recruitment over the past three years had left the squad unable to actually compete for major honours.
“Barcelona have to change their thinking first because football has developed a lot, their DNA is already there and other teams are improving in other aspects; football is more physical now, more With power and speed, and technique sometimes that’s what it needs. A back seat,” he said.
“Barcelona have to change a lot of things. I think the best team in the world can’t have 13 professional players and the rest are young. Not because they don’t deserve to be there, but they have to compete with the best and Who has to play?
Vidal targets Barcelona’s recent business / Denis Doyle / Getty Images
“All teams have 23 players fighting for position, growing and improving every day. But when they don’t develop, when you think that with your DNA you can always win, you are very are wrong.
“There are very good players, we have Messi who is number one and Alain, but he needs help, he needs players who improve the team and give better results.”
For more from Tom Gott, follow him on Twitter!