Cristian Chivu addressed the swirling speculation around Lautaro Martinez’s future and reported Barcelona interest on Friday, speaking to reporters ahead of Inter Milan’s Serie A opener against Monza.
Asked directly about reports linking the Argentine captain to Barcelona, Chivu didn’t shy away from the topic. “Lautaro is our captain and we keep him with us. I think he will stay here for very long time,” he said, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Inter boss acknowledged that speculation around his captain was inevitable given his stature in the squad, noting that Martinez represents “what we were and what we want to be in the future“.
Still, when pressed further on whether he could guarantee Martinez’s future beyond the current window, Chivu opted not to make any promises. “Then the transfer market is bastard… so I’m not gonna reply. For sure we want Lautaro to stay here,” he added, striking a more cautious tone about a situation that remains out of his hands.
For now, Martinez is set to captain Inter Milan in their Serie A opener on Saturday against Monza, where they’ll look to begin their title defense in the best way possible.
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Lautaro Martinez is Barcelona’s Plan B
The rumors have picked up steam after Barcelona’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez hit a wall at Atletico Madrid, reportedly pushing the Catalan club to view Martinez as an alternative.
Reports out of Spain suggest personal terms have already been discussed and that Martinez himself would be open to the move, though Inter’s stance remains that the 28-year-old, under contract until 2029, isn’t for sale.
