Mundo Deportivo reveal just how close Lautaro Martinez got to joining Atletico Madrid before he went for Inter, as he had even signed the contract.

The Argentina international has since become a sensation at San Siro, scoring 74 goals in 180 games, helping them win the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.

However, it was almost a very different scenario, because that €25m move from Racing Avellaneda in July 2018 almost didn’t happen.

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo published photographs taken in December 2017, showing a then 20-year-old Lautaro Martinez posing with the six-season contract for Atletico Madrid.

He had already passed a medical, his agent Roly Zarate said it was “99% done” and he would remain on loan at Racing for another six months.

Instead, Inter legends Diego Milito and Javier Zanetti convinced El Toro to choose Inter, with Racing swayed by an offer worth double the €12m proposed by Atleti.

Atletico Madrid have repeatedly been linked with a move for Lautaro Martinez in the last few years, because he is the one that got away, but his price-tag now is closer to €90m.

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