Recent reports emerging from Spain claim that Lionel Messi has personally contacted Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez and urged the youngster to join Barcelona. The development is interesting when viewed in the context of Real Madrid’s reported interest in Martinez.
A report carried by Don Balon, a Spanish news outlet, claims that Martinez, Messi’s national teammate was contacted by Messi himself over the phone earlier in the week.
The report adds that the telephonic conversation involved talks concerning the future of 22-year-old. The Barcelona veteran wanted him national to join Barca and thereby bring an end to reported interest from arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Notably, Martinez had joined Inter Milan last summer from Racing Club for a reported transfer fee of €14million. Post that, he has featured for the Serie A heavyweights on 44 occasions and scored 12 goals and provided an assist.
One of his goals came against Messi’s Barcelona in a Champions League encounter in which Inter Milan went on to lose despite taking an early lead, courtesy a strike from the Argentine. He also netted a goal against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus in a Serie A encounter last week.
At the same time, there have been reports which are claiming that Real Madrid are also interested in the striker. However, they are yet to submit an official bid for him.