Former Roma boss Monchi ‘turned down’ the chance to sign Lautaro Martinez from Racing Club for €8 m in January 2018, the player’s agent said.
“In January 2018, I offered Lautaro Martinez to Roma for € 8 million,” said agent and intermediary Luis Ruzzi to Tuttomercatoweb. “That was the release clause Racing had at the time, but the Giallorossi did not accept it. There were also talks with Atletico Madrid, which were essential, but did not turn into anything concrete.”
Indeed, the striker instead joined Inter in July that year for €25 m: “The Racing President changed the clause on January 20 to raise it to €20 m and then Inter did the rest.”
He is now part of a €111 m bidding war between Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
