Lionel Messi has already given a glowing review of Lautaro Martinez as he is linked with a move to Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Gunners have been long-term admirers of the Inter Milan striker and were keen on making a move for the Argentine last summer, but a deal failed to materialise. It's been reported that Mikel Arteta's men will reignite their interest in the 24-year-old but United are set to rival their foes for his signature, according to The Times.
Arsenal are in desperate need of a no.9 following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exit to Barcelona in January, with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah set to follow suit as their contracts expire in the summer.
Erik ten Hag is looking to reshape his Manchester United squad when he arrives at the end of the season and with as many as 12 players leaving Old Trafford, there should be plenty of reinforcements coming in the other direction.
It's also previously been rumoured that Barcelona were looking at Martinez as they tried to link him up with his compatriot Lionel Messi, before he joined Paris Saint-Germain. It's a partnership that was a huge success for Argentina as they led the nation to the Copa America title last summer and Messi was full of praise for his teammate insisting he is the "complete" striker.
He said: “He’s spectacular. He has impressive qualities. You could tell he was going to be a great player and he is showing that.
“He’s very strong, really good one-on-one, scores a lot of goals and in the area he fights with anyone, holds it up, he can turn, scrap to win it all on his own. He has a lot of quality. He’s very complete.”
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Martinez's agent Yaque was asked about those comments from Messi at the time and, although the player was supposedly flattered by the complimentary remarks, he was adamant that his client wasn't taking any notice of the noise surrounding his future.
He told Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo: “Surely for Lauty it is a great compliment from the best in the world. I think that is very nice and comforting for him.
“He wears it as if nothing. Because he is only focused on his club but surely with great satisfaction knowing that he is doing things very well for all this. Lautaro has a five-year contract with Inter and the news that comes out are exclusively from the press.”
