I told Lautaro to reject Barcelona for Inter stay, claims Crespo

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 11:26 BST
• 1 min read

Former Chelsea striker Herman Crespo has sensationally claimed that he told Inter’s Lautaro Martínez to reject Barcelona and remain at the San Siro.

Martinez has become one of the hottest properties in Europe over the past couple of seasons, attracting interest from many of the biggest clubs around.

Against a backdrop of mounting debts and public feuds with star men Lionel Messi and the eventually departed Luis Suarez, Crespo says Barça still attempted to lure Martinez to the Camp Nou.

But he told the striker to stay at the club he himself enjoyed two spells with, and he believes he has been vindicated with his advice to Martinez.

“I have known Lautaro for a long time, this summer I advised him not to accept Barcelona’s offers and not to move from Inter and in the end I was right,” Crespo told Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Martinez’s partnership with Romelu Lukaku has really caught the eye, and the pair of them linked up to help Inter defeat city rivals AC Milan over the weekend and take control of the Serie A title race.

Manchester City have also been linked with a move for the 23-year-old, as they look for a replacement for Sergio Aguero. The elder Argentine striker is out of contract at the Etihad Stadium and there is no suggestion yet that he will remain at the Premier League club.