Argentina legend Hernan Crespo believes Blues and Blaugrana target Lautaro Martinez shares many qualities with prolific Man City centre-forward Sergio Aguero. Europe’s elite teams have monitored Argentina international after scoring 11 goals in 22 Serie A matches this campaign.
Blaugrana are thought to be the prime candidates to swoop Lautaro’s signature this summer, but the London giants are reported to have offered better terms to the Italian side and the footballer.
Ex-Chelsea centre-forward Crespo believes Argentina striker has a bright future ahead of him for team and country, he said: ‘We know Mauro Icardi and Paulo Dybala, while we’re getting to see what Lautaro Martinez can do.
‘Lautaro could well be the new Sergio Aguero. He’s not as sharp in his dribbling, but he is more of a team player than Aguero, who too often gets distracted and looks disinterested. Martinez is always participating in the move, so he can play as a lone striker or with another centre-forward like Romelu Lukaku, even in a trident.
I like his mentality.’ Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has turned on the charm offensive in a possible bid to help recruit Lautaro, calling him a ‘spectacular’ player. Martinez’s agent Beto Yaque admitted earlier this week that while the praise is flattering, he isn’t currently focused on any transfer talk.
He said: ‘For Martinez it is a great compliment from the best in the world, I think that is very nice and comforting for him. Lautaro has a five-year contract with Inter, and the press exclusively generates the news that comes out.’