Victor Osimhen Emerges as Barcelona’s Last Resort as Lautaro Martínez Rules Out Transfer

Barcelona’s hunt for a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski has taken another difficult turn, with Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez effectively closing the door on a potential move to the Catalan club.

Speaking publicly on the transfer speculation surrounding his future, the Argentine forward — a FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022 — made clear his intention to remain at San Siro. “I would definitely like to. My family and I are happy; we even own a restaurant, the children go to school and have their friends,” Martínez said. “I find it hard to imagine myself anywhere else. You never know, but if they don’t kick me out, I’ll stay here.”

Inter Milan president Giuseppe Marotta further reinforced that position by publicly declaring the striker is absolutely not for sale, removing any ambiguity around a potential departure from the Nerazzurri.

Martínez’s comments come off the back of an outstanding individual campaign. The forward contributed 22 goals and six assists across 40 appearances in all competitions this season, helping Inter secure a domestic double — the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia. Those honours add to a trophy haul in Milan that already includes two additional Serie A titles, two further Coppa Italia winners’ medals, and three consecutive Supercoppa Italiana crowns.

The closure of the Martínez route is the latest in a series of setbacks for Barcelona in the transfer market. According to reports, the club had also explored the possibility of signing Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez, but financial complications rendered that avenue unworkable. A subsequent pivot towards Chelsea’s João Pedro was reportedly blocked by the English club’s valuation, narrowing Barcelona’s options considerably.

With those alternatives exhausted, sources suggest that Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has emerged as Barcelona’s last resort contingency plan. The Super Eagles captain joined the Turkish champions on a season-long loan from Napoli in the 2024/25 campaign before his transfer was made permanent, and has since established himself as one of the most coveted strikers in European football.

However, any approach for the Nigerian international will not come cheaply. Galatasaray have already issued a public warning to interested clubs that offers below €100 million will be rejected outright — a valuation that is likely to test Barcelona’s financial constraints given the club’s well-documented economic challenges in recent years.

Osimhen, 26, previously attracted interest from several top European clubs including Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea during his time at Napoli, where he scored 76 goals in 133 Serie A appearances and won the club’s first league title in 33 years in the 2022/23 season. His availability and profile make him a natural target, though the financial barrier remains a significant obstacle for the Blaugrana as they seek to reshape their attacking options ahead of the 2026/27 season.