Barcelona weigh Lautaro Martinez as Alvarez backup

Barcelona are still looking for a striker after Robert Lewandowski’s departure, and Spanish reports suggest the club are now preparing an alternative in case their pursuit of Julian Alvarez does not move forward.

According to the source reports, Alvarez remains Barcelona’s preferred option. But Atletico Madrid are not expected to make any deal easy with a direct league rival, leaving the Catalan club needing a backup plan as time pressure grows.

Need for a forward has become more urgent

Spanish media have framed the situation as increasingly pressing for Hansi Flick. The concern is not only Lewandowski’s exit, but also the possibility of Ferran Torres leaving for Paris Saint-Germain.

Reports cited in Spain say Barcelona’s recent pre-season matches underlined a lack of goals in the squad. That concern has sharpened the focus on bringing in a new central attacker, especially with Lewandowski having provided a high scoring output during his time at the club.

In that context, signing either Alvarez or another senior forward is being presented as a priority rather than a luxury.

Lautaro Martinez named as plan B

El Desmarque and the Catalan press have identified Inter striker Lautaro Martinez as the leading alternative if Barcelona cannot make progress on Alvarez in the coming days.

The reports say both sporting director Deco and head coach Flick appreciate Martinez’s profile and believe he would suit the team’s needs. Like Alvarez, he is Argentine, and his name has now entered the conversation as Barcelona seek to avoid being left without options.

Even so, the same reports make clear that any move would be complicated. Martinez is under contract with Inter until June 2029 and is regarded as one of the club’s major figures.

Inter stance and financial obstacle

Barcelona’s interest does not remove the obvious barriers. The source material notes that Inter previously rejected the idea of negotiations with Barcelona, while Martinez himself publicly said he would like to finish his career in Milan.

That makes this a difficult operation before finances are even considered. Catalan outlet Sport, citing La Gazzetta dello Sport, reports that Inter would only consider letting Martinez go for around 120 million euros.

For Barcelona, that would make any attempt to sign him a major financial undertaking, especially for a player who is being discussed as an alternative rather than the club’s first choice.

Why Martinez appeals

There is little doubt about Martinez’s pedigree. Last season he scored 17 goals and supplied six assists in 30 Serie A matches. He also added four goals in eight Champions League appearances and another in the Coppa Italia.

At the 2026 World Cup, he scored three times and played an important role for Argentina as they reached the final, where they lost to Spain.

• Julian Alvarez remains Barcelona’s priority target
• Lautaro Martinez is being discussed as a fallback option
• Inter’s asking price is reported to be around 120 million euros
• Martinez is under contract until June 2029

For now, the picture appears unchanged: Alvarez is still the main objective, but Barcelona are exploring contingencies. If talks over the Atletico Madrid forward remain blocked, Martinez could become the next name to watch.