Lautaro Martinez has a ‘very good chance’ of joining Barcelona this summer, according to his agent’s brother.
The Inter Milan striker is expected to make a big-money move when the transfer window reopens having starred in Serie A, with Chelsea and Manchester City among the clubs understood to be keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.
Martinez, who has scored 16 goals this season, has a €111million (£97m) release clause.
And Sergio Zarate, a former Argentina international and the brother of Martinez’s agent Rolando, reckons he will move to Spain to play alongside fellow countryman Lionel Messi.
He told Fox Sports Mexico: “Lautaro is playing at Inter now, but trust me, he will certainly go to Spain next.
“There’s a very good chance he will join Barcelona. He’s a great player with no limits to his capabilities.
“The player will ultimately decide, but the fact that Lionel Messi wants to have him in the team can make his dreams come true.”
Martinez joined Inter for £19.8m from Argentine side Racing Club in 2018.
He could be a long-term successor to Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who turns 34 next year.
In February, Messi endorsed his international teammate Martinez, which increased speculation over a potential Nou Camp transfer.
The Barcelona captain said: “He’s spectacular.
“He has impressive qualities. You could tell he was going to be a great player and he is showing that.
“He’s very strong, really good one on one, scores a lot of goals and in the area he fights with anyone, holds it up, he can turn, scrap to win it all on his own. He has a lot of quality. He’s very complete.”