Atlético Madrid are preparing for a summer of ambitious transfers, and Lautaro Martínez is once again at the centre of the red and white agenda.
The Argentine striker, captain and top scorer of Inter Milan, has been a priority for Diego Pablo Simeone for years, and the sporting directors of Atlético Madrid have already initiated the first contacts to pursue a signing that would revolutionize the Metropolitano’s attacking line.
At his peak, Lautaro Martínez was worth 110 million euros, at the latest update from Transfermarkt, the value is “only” 95 million euros.
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A luxurious replacement for Sørloth’s and Correa’s exit
Atlético’s offensive planning is undergoing a major restructuring. Despite his exceptional performance as a substitute (20 goals this season, most from the bench), Alexander Sorloth has not been a regular starter and his future points away from the club given the interest from the Premier League and other markets. Furthermore, Ángel Correa’s departure leaves a significant gap in the offensive rotation. In this context, Lautaro Martínez appears to be the star signing who will lead the attack alongside Julián Álvarez, forming a luxurious duo with proven chemistry in the Argentine national team.
Simeone, key in the operation
“Cholo” Simeone has long dreamed of bringing in Lautaro, a striker who fits perfectly into his style of play: aggressiveness, mobility, goal instinct and sacrifice. AS reports that the Argentine coach wants to take a qualitative leap forward in attack and believes the Lautaro-Julián duo can become one of the most formidable in Europe, as they have already shown with the Albiceleste.
Terms of the deal: a high-level signing
The arrival of Lautaro Martínez will not be easy. The striker has a contract with Inter until 2029 and a buyout clause of around 100 million euros. However, the context could play in Atlético’s favour: Lautaro himself welcomes a change of scenery and the opportunity to become the mainstay of a competitive project in La Liga and Europe. The deal is also conditional on the departure of Antoine Griezmann, whose future at the club is uncertain and who would free up wages and a place in the starting line-up for the Argentine’s signing.
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Atlético have already shown that they can assemble two top strikers. The collaboration between Lautaro and Julián has worked perfectly for the Argentine national team, where the two have alternated starting roles and complemented each other with mobility, pressure and scoring. The club’s vision is for Lautaro to be Julián’s ideal partner, with the two swapping positions and posing a constant threat to the opponent’s defence.
An important summer for Atlético
The red and white team’s sporting management is already working on the numbers and strategy to convince Inter and Lautaro himself. The possible sale of Sørloth and Griezmann’s departure will be crucial to secure the necessary financial muscle. If these conditions are met, Atlético will launch a full offensive to make Lautaro Martínez the new Metropolitano idol and the perfect partner for Julián Álvarez.
