'Lautaro Is Not For Sale’ – Inter Director Warns Potential Suitors
Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has insisted that the club are not going to sell Lautaro Martinez amid interest from Spanish giants Barcelona.
The Argentina international has been widely linked with a move away from San Siro but Ausilio has revealed the Serie A club are unwilling to sell its best players as they intend to build a great team.
The Spanish champions have identified Martinez as Luis Suarez’s long-term replacement, but the former Racing Club man is currently available for €111 million, with that release clause set to expire on July 15.
Barcelona are prepared to offer a host of squad players as part of a swap deal to drive Martinez’s fee down but Ausilio has insisted the Spaniards must meet the release clause before they land their prime target.
"As far as Martinez is concerned, there is only one way that he will leave Inter and that is by paying his clause," Ausilio told Sky Italia.
"A clause that everyone knows – there is no point in hiding – is demanding, because it has both deadlines and commitments that must be kept very precise.”
"It is a clause that expires in the early part of July so it won't last for a long time. And it is the only possibility that exists to take Lautaro away from Inter today."
"He is an important asset of the club, and let's not forget that he still has a three-year contract with Inter," Ausilio added.
"Inter are not going to sell their most important players. We intend to keep them and eventually strengthen in the transfer market, and this also applies to Lautaro."
Martinez scored 16 goals in 31 games for the Nerazzurri in all competitions before the season was suspended due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
