Lautaro: the emergent plan for Barça

FC Barcelona

Barça is starting to look beyond Julián Álvarez. The Atlético forward remains the priority for the sporting directorate, but the stance of the rojiblanco club is making an operation that, as of today, remains blocked increasingly difficult.

The situation forces the Barça to have a second scenario prepared in which Lautaro Martínez appears.

According to ElDesmarque, the Inter striker is gaining ground as an alternative if, over the next few days, there are no advances in the attempt to sign Julián. The Argentine is liked by Deco and Hansi Flick, and fits the profile the German coach is looking for in his attack.

Robert Lewandowski has already left and Ferran Torres is also pointing toward an exit. Flick needs a new centre-forward and Barça does not want to reach the decisive stretch of the market depending on a single deal.

Lautaro offers experience, goals, and the ability to contribute much more than just in the box. He can act as an offensive reference, link up with his team-mates, and press in the opposing half. At 28 years old, he also arrives backed by a consolidated track record at the Inter and a 2026 World Cup in which he once again left his mark with Argentina.

The contract, the main obstacle

Lautaro is under contract until June 2029 and is one of the key figures of the Italian side. The club made it clear last May that it had no intention of negotiating his exit. Giuseppe Marotta denied any contact with Barça at the time, and the forward himself also shut the door on a change of scenery. His message was clear: he wants to stay in Milan.

His performances with Argentina have further boosted his price and, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Inter could consider an exit for around 120 million euros. A figure that places the signing in a very complicated economic dimension for the Blaugrana club.

Season 25/26

His numbers explain much of that valuation because in the 2025/26 season he scored 17 goals and provided 6 assists in 30 Serie A matches. In the Champions League he added four goals in eight games and also scored in the Coppa Italia.

Keeping an eye on Julián

The Barça still has Julián on its radar and the Argentine returned this Monday to Atletico training and underwent a medical check in Madrid. His conversation with Diego Simeone is scheduled for Wednesday, when the rojiblanco coach returns from his holidays.

Julián wants to personally convey his desire to play for Barça. The problem is that the Atlético maintains a firm stance and considers the forward to be non-transferable.

That is why Lautaro is starting to appear with more force, not because his signing would be straightforward, but because Barça needs an alternative if the door of the Metropolitano stays shut.