According to a recent report by SPORT, Barcelona had not one, but two golden opportunities to sign Inter Milan’s captain Lautaro Martinez—both of which slipped away.
These missed chances now feel like haunting echoes of what could have been for the Catalan club, especially as Lautaro continues to thrive in Serie A and on the European stage.
The latest instance
The first failed attempt dates back to early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the football world to a standstill.
At the time, Barça were actively negotiating with Lautaro’s agents and appeared to be on the verge of completing the deal.
Some sources even claim everything was “practically tied up.” However, the pandemic hit, financial uncertainties escalated, and Barcelona pulled back.
There are even suggestions that the Blaugrana’s pursuit simply helped Inter sweeten Lautaro’s renewal terms, turning Barça into a pawn in Inter’s contract game.
However, the bigger regret might be what happened before that.
The first instance
Back in 2018, long before Lautaro made headlines in Europe, Miki Albert, one of Barcelona’s trusted scouts, returned from Argentina with glowing reports.
He had watched Lautaro shine for Racing Club and the Albiceleste youth side, and urged the club to act. At the time, the transfer fee was only €7–8 million, a fraction of what he is worth now.
But internal disagreements within the technical department led to no concrete movement. There were other priorities. No consensus was reached. Lautaro stayed in Argentina.
A few months later, Inter Milan came calling and secured him for €25 million. The rest, as they say, is history. Lautaro did not just become a top scorer for club and country, he became one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe.
