Why Lautaro Martinez joined Inter despite signing Atletico Madrid contract

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ByLorenzo Bettoni

Feb 19, 2024 11:41

Inter Milan forward #10 Lautaro Martinez (R) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and US Salernitana at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, on February 16, 2024. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)

Lautaro Martinez had signed a contract with Atletico Madrid in 2017, but Inter hijacked the Colchoneros’ bid and convinced the Argentinean striker to move to San Siro with the help of Diego Milito and Javier Zanetti.

Lautaro’s Inter host Atletico Madrid at the Stadio Meazza on Tuesday, in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.

Monday’s printed edition of Il Corriere dello Sport on page 10 reports Martinez could have played tomorrow’s game with the Atletico Madrid shirt.

The La Liga giants had agreed to pay Lautaro’s €12m clause to sign him for Racing in December 2017, but the striker would have remained on loan at the Argentinean club for the second part of the season.

Lautaro had even signed his contract with Atletico Madrid, as proved by Mundo Deportivo in 2022.

However, the Nerazzurri managed to hijack the Colchoners’ bid and sign Lautaro in 2018 by doubling Atletico’s offer and persuading the striker to move to the Stadio Meazza through club legends Milito and Zanetti.

Milito was Lautaro’s teammate at Racing. El Toro made his senior debut with the Argentinean club in 2015 by replacing the experienced striker, winner of the 2010 Champions League at the Stadio Meazza.

Lautaro was named Inter’s captain last summer and is the Serie A leading scorer with 22 goals in 20 appearances.