Lautaro Martinez “could well be the new Sergio Aguero”, says Hernan Crespo, with the Inter striker being tipped to follow in illustrious footsteps as speculation regarding a big-money move to Barcelona is ramped up.
The South American striker has become the subject of intense transfer talk heading towards another window.
His exploits at San Siro are said to have thrust him onto the recruitment radar of leading sides across Europe, with Goal able to confirm that Bara are readying a big-money approach.
Inter are reluctant to part with a 22-year-old who has much potential still to be unlocked, but it may be that their hand is forced.
Former Nerazzurri forward Crespo is not surprised to see a fellow countryman generating so much interest, with there every reason to believe that Lautaro can become a key man for club and country.
Discussing the goalscoring options currently available to Argentina, a man with 64 caps and 35 goals for the Albiceleste told Sky Sport Italia: “We know Mauro Icardi and Paulo Dybala, while we’re getting to see what Lautaro Martinez can do.
“Lautaro could well be the new Sergio Aguero. He’s not as sharp in his dribbling, but he is more of a team player than Kun, who too often gets distracted and looks disinterested.
“Lautaro is always participating in the move, so he can play as a lone centre-forward or with another striker like Romelu Lukaku, even in a trident. I really like his mentality.”
Getty ImagesManchester City star Aguero has been one of the most fearsome frontmen on the planet for some time now.
Crespo knows all about the qualities required to succeed in such a role, having been a prolific presence himself over the course of a distinguished playing career.
The most productive spells of his playing days came in Italy at Parma, Lazio and Inter, with the first of two stints at San Siro in 2002 seeing him snapped up as successor to Brazil icon Ronaldo.
Crespo said of the two-time World Cup winner, a man he considers to sit alongside legendary figures of the modern era: “For people of my generation, Ronaldo was a phenomenon.
“CR7 has had the good fortune, like [Lionel] Messi, to play at the same time and improve each other but for Il Fenomeno Ronaldo it was different.
“At the time there was probably not as big a stimulus that Ronaldo and Messi have today to improve even further.
“Without a doubt Cristiano Ronaldo has shown incredible longevity but the way that Ronnie got in on goal and the things he used to do to get away from opponents make him unreachable.”
Crespo is currently working his way up the coaching ladder, with a spell being taken in as manager of Argentine side Defensa y Justicia, but he hopes to return to Europe at some stage in the future.
The 44-year-old added: “I would like to manage the teams I played for.
“I want to go back to San Siro, so long as they do not pull it down. I dream of going back there every day, it is a magical place.”