Arsenal reportedly turned to Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez as a backup plan once their pursuit of Julian Alvarez fell apart, but Inter shut the door fast.
Full name: Arsenal Football Club Nickname: The Gunners Founded: October 1886 Stadium: Emirates Stadium Owner: Kroenke Sports and Entertainment Co-chairmen: Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke Manager: Mikel Arteta League: Premier League Season 2025/26: Champions Website: arsenal.com Arsenal football club is one… Read More about ARSENAL
Arsenal made a secret approach for Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez, as per latest transfer news. It was a move that could have reshaped their entire attacking plans for the new season.
Arsenal’s chase for Lautaro Martinez
Arsenal had been chasing Julian Alvarez for months, hoping the Atletico Madrid forward would push through a move to the Emirates this summer. The Gunners believed they had a real shot at signing him, given his public frustration at the Spanish club.
However, Alvarez ended up staying in Madrid, leaving his long term future there still unclear. Once it became obvious that a deal was dead, manager Mikel Arteta turned his attention elsewhere. He had already been linked with a move for Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, but the head coach also explored a shock swoop for Lautaro Martinez.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Arsenal assistant coach Gabriel Heinze, who shares Argentine roots with Martinez, got in touch with the player for a possible switch to the Premier League. But this reported chase for Martinez was quickly and firmly rejected by Inter Milan. The Serie A side made it clear their captain was not for sale. Given his history, that response should not come as a shock. Martinez had already turned down interest from Barcelona in the past, choosing to stay loyal to the Nerazzurri.
Inter Milan’s stance on their skipper
Inter’s refusal makes complete sense once you look at what Martinez brought to the club last season. He ended the last Serie A campaign as the league’s top scorer with 17 goals and 6 assists in 30 games. These are great numbers for a player often written off due to his age. He also picked up the Serie A Best Forward award for that same campaign, helping his side lift a memorable Scudetto title under coach Cristian Chivu.
This was actually his second time topping the Serie A scoring charts. He matched a feat only managed by a handful of legends in Inter’s long history. The forward has now scored 175 goals in 378 appearances across all competitions for the club. These are the numbers that place him among the greatest strikers to ever wear the Nerazzurri shirt.
Martinez’s numbers for Inter Milan during the 2025/26 season, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists
Serie A 30 17 6
Coppa Italia 2 1 0
Super Cup 1 0 0
Champions League 8 4 0
FIFA Club World Cup 4 2 0
His current market value sits close to €85m, with his contract at San Siro running until June 2029. This gives Inter no financial pressure whatsoever to consider selling their captain this summer.
Inter Milan
Inter Milan
Arsenal missed out on Alvarez & Martinez both
Martinez is also remembered by English fans for his heartbreak-inducing header that sent Argentina past England and into the World Cup 2026 final. That was a moment that only added to his growing legend in world football.
For Arsenal, missing out on both Alvarez and Martinez leaves a real gap up front heading into the new campaign. Arteta’s side will likely need to explore fresh options quickly during the winter transfer window in January. Names like Victor Osimhen are still floating around as alternatives worth monitoring closely for the next window.
Read Next: Curtis Jones leaves Liverpool as Inter complete surprise deal