Already close to breaking the promise they would not be selling any other big names after Achraf Hakimi’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain with the whole Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea debacle, Inter cannot afford to also let Lautaro Martínez go this summer.
Doing so would likely cause some sort of riot in Milan, and yet talk of Tottenham bidding and agreeing a fee for the Argentine striker did the rounds over the weekend.
That was then denied by Inter before the player’s agent tried to speak to whoever was willing to listen to make it clear his client wasn’t looking to leave the Serie A side.
Despite all this, Corriere dello Sport are adamant an offer was made, but it was rejected.
According to the Italian newspaper, ‘Tottenham put €85m + €10m in bonuses on the table’ for Lautaro Martinez, which was ‘well above’ the £60m reported in England.
On a quick side note, that does seem like an awful lot of money for a club who have already spent £20m+ on Bryan Gil and £40m+ on Romero, whenever they decide to make that odd loan deal permanent.
Going back to Corriere, they reckon the next few days could be key as ‘we will understand if the chairman Levy will insist’, as he is under pressure to sort out the Harry Kane debacle.
Unlike Lukaku to Chelsea, it’s explained ‘Inter were able to oppose Tottenham’s advances with a sharp refusal because they had Toro on their side’.
However, what might have helped is that the offer came from the Premier League, because some wonder how the player would have reacted ‘if the courtship had come from a big team in La Liga, the league where the Argentine would like to play’.
That’s echoed by Gazzetta dello Sport, who make it clear the interest from Tottenham ‘is real and has been known for several weeks’, but that ‘La Liga would be Lautaro’s favourite league if he were to leave Inter’.
It all stems from Fabio Paratici, who ‘started courting’ the player ‘for a while to protect himself in the event of Kane’s farewell, eager to go to Guardiola’s City’.
Time will tell if a second bid arrives, but, for now, Martinez se queda.
