For now, Marotta hasn’t gone beyond the 8 mark: the gap isn’t wide, the aim is to close it in a few months.
Optimism abounds on both sides, along with the desire to continue together. But more time is needed, which is normal practice when significant figures are involved. Figures like those being discussed between Inter and Lautaro Martinez, increasingly an icon for the Nerazzurri.
In order to secure ‘Il Toro’ and avoid any ‘jokes’, Marotta has acted well in advance: Zhang has given him almost free rein just to keep the Argentine. This is evidenced by the moves of the CEO, who has put on the table the handsome sum of €8 million (plus bonuses) to extend the contract. A ‘record’ figure that would make the 26-year-old the highest-paid player on the team. But it’s not enough. Lauti and his agents are asking for ‘just’ 2 more, namely €10 Million: the gap isn’t wide, and Inter’s willingness to make a sacrifice to keep the former Racing player is strong.
Officializing the renewal by summer is a ‘mandatory’ step for the club: with the dance of forwards that could happen in the summer thanks to Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid. Lautaro, Serie A’s top scorer so far, risks being involved in these deals: it’s better to arrive in the summer with an extension until 2028. In March, in Madrid, there could be the decisive summit between the club and agent Camano to reach the basic agreement to be ratified later.
The certainty is that the Argentine is set to become the highest-paid player on the team and one of the best paid in the Serie A: he currently earns €6 million per season, with overtaking Calhanoglu, who recieves 6.5. Lautaro is captain, leader, and now an icon: He wants renewal worthy of all of this.