Ernesto Valverde hails Inter striker and Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez as ‘born goalscorer’ and ‘great player’ ahead of Champions League clash
- Inter Milan take on Barcelona in final group game of Champions League
- Striker Lautaro Martinez has been one of the Italian side’s standout players
- He has been linked with move to Barcelona as successor to Luis Suarez
Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has hailed Lautaro Martinez as a ‘great player’, with the Inter Milan striker reportedly a transfer target for the club.
Inter host Valverde’s side on Tuesday night in the Champions League and the Argentine forward has been on sensational form this season.
The 22-year-old’s displays have drawn admiring glances from the Nou Camp and he is seen by some as a long-term successor to Luis Suarez.
Lautaro Martinez was hailed by Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde as ‘a great player’
‘He is a great player and he’s having a great season. He is quick and strong,’ Valverde said.
‘He scored a great goal in the first game at the Camp Nou. I know he is comfortable with [Romelu] Lukaku, they’ve found the right mechanism to help Inter.
‘As for Lautaro being similar to Luis Suarez, they are a little different but both are born goalscorers.
‘But Inter have so many good players, Lautaro, Lukaku, [Milan] Skriniar…’
Martinez has been a dangerman for Inter all season and netted on 13 occasions
Martinez has scored 13 goals for Antonio Conte’s side so far this season and his combination with Lukaku up front has tormented defences.
Inter fans will hope that he can make the difference on Tuesday night with qualification for the knockout stages still not assured.
Both Inter and Borussia Dortmund are level on seven points with Barcelona already having sealed progression to the last 16.
Valverde thinks the 22-year-old is a ‘born goalscorer’ but slightly different to Luis Suarez
