MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 10:28:13| >> :120:11817:11817:

Lionel Messi 'pleads with Lautaro Martinez to join Barcelona'

Messi 'pleads with Lautaro Martinez to join Barca'
© Reuters
Lionel Messi reportedly contacts Lautaro Martinez in an attempt to convince the Inter Milan forward to join Barcelona.

Lionel Messi has reportedly personally contacted fellow Argentina international Lautaro Martinez in an attempt to convince the Inter Milan forward to make the move to Barcelona.

Martinez was linked with a move to Camp Nou during the summer transfer window, with Barca allegedly prepared to pay £100m to bring the 22-year-old to Spain.

The centre-forward scored nine times in 35 appearances for Inter during the 2018-19 campaign, while he has started this season with three goals in nine outings - including a strike against Barca in the Champions League.

According to reports in Spain, Messi phoned Martinez earlier this week to discuss a potential move to the Spanish champions in next summer's transfer window.

The attacker registered 27 goals in 60 appearances for Racing Club before moving to San Siro ahead of the 2018-19 season, while he has struck nine goals in 14 games for Argentina.

Barca are believed to be in the market for a new striker to eventually replace 32-year-old Luis Suarez, who has started to pick up a number of injuries in the latter stages of his career.

ID:374701: cacheID:374701:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2275:
Written by
Matt Law
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic pictured in September 2018
Read Next:
Inter 'in pole position to sign Rakitic'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!