Barcelona's long-running interest in Martinez ran deeper than previously known, according to Argentine outlet TyC Sports, with the Catalan club having identified the Inter captain as their preferred long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski well before their pursuit of Julián Álvarez collapsed.
TyC Sports reports that Barcelona's first approach dates back to this year's World Cup, when Lautaro was fully focused on Argentina's campaign and in no position to entertain the idea. The club is said to have continued monitoring his situation afterwards, eventually renewing their interest in the Inter captain and even envisaging handing him the number nine shirt.
His decision to turn the move down, however, was not simply another rejected approach in a saga that has run for several years — it reflected, according to the report, a deliberate choice to keep building his career in Milan.
Lautaro himself addressed the speculation earlier this month, confirming for the first time that the interest had been genuine.
Speaking at the Gran Galà del Calcio, he said: "The rumours about Barcelona were true, but in the end I wanted to stay here with my teammates and my fans. Inter means everything to me — pride, happiness and the desire to keep going.
"I chose once again to stay here, and I want to do great things at Inter."
The striker also paid tribute to sporting director Piero Ausilio, who signed him from Racing Club in 2018 and has overseen his rise to captain.
"I'm very sorry for him — he's the one who gave me trust and the project. I'll always be grateful to him."
For Barcelona, the episode underlines the scale of their long-term planning at centre-forward as Lewandowski's career winds down, even if their most ambitious target has once again chosen to stay put — a pattern that has repeated itself since Barcelona's interest first properly surfaced during his early years in Serie A.
For Inter Milan and their supporters, Lautaro's public confirmation offers fresh reassurance that their captain's future, for now at least, remains at San Siro, where he has grown into the club's talismanic figure and one of its most productive forwards of the modern era.