Giuseppe Marotta, the president of Inter Milan, has publicly acknowledged that FC Barcelona showed interest in signing Lautaro Martinez in the recent summer transfer window. Despite this interest, Marotta firmly stated that Martinez is not only a key player for the team but also represents the "present and future" of Inter Milan.

In an interview with DAZN Italia, Marotta painted a competitive picture of the ongoing title race in Serie A, indicating that the championship challenge is not limited to just Inter and Napoli, but also includes other clubs like Roma, Juventus, and even Como, which he described as an intriguing and distinctive phenomenon in the league.

When discussing Inter's ambitions, Marotta expressed the importance of maintaining a winning mentality, stating, "Winning consecutive titles helps you maintain a habit of victory, but sustaining that position is the biggest challenge. We have yet to achieve any results this season. To make history, we must seek new motivations, especially as Inter is now the target that every team wants to dethrone. This makes each match significantly more challenging."

Contract extensions are also a priority for Inter Milan, particularly after young striker Francesco Pio Esposito signed a new deal and following recent comments from Federico Dimarco. Marotta emphasized the club's respect for all players and the intention to meet with their representatives to discuss mutual aspirations.

He concluded the interview with a smile when addressing Barcelona's interest in Lautaro Martinez, stating, "The information about Barcelona inquiring about Lautaro is entirely true, but our response, as well as the player's, is very clear: we want to continue this partnership. Lautaro is the captain, the present, and also the future of Inter. We hope this strong bond will last for a long time to come."