Barcelona president Joan Laporta has admitted that the club made a move to sign Lautaro Martínez during the summer transfer window — only to abandon the effort almost immediately after a single phone call made it clear that Inter Milan had no intention of letting the Argentine striker go.

Laporta confirmed that Barcelona identified Martínez as a transfer target but that Inter Milan's firm stance brought the pursuit to a swift close before it could develop into a serious negotiation.