Lautaro Martinez speaks out on relationship with 'animal' Lionel Messi as Inter striker reveals final stance on his future amid summer transfer rumours

The Inter striker revealed how hard Lionel Messi works in training while explaining that the Inter Miami star's winning mentality sets him apart from his peers. He also proudly spoke about his friendship and the close bond he shares with the Argentina legend.

Speaking on the Italian TV program Che Tempo Che Fa, Lautaro said: "I am Messi’s friend and teammate. We are talking about an important player who has made history in football. It feels like he’s playing a different sport in training sessions. He does things that I’ve never seen before. He is a competition animal, and he never wants to lose."

The 26-year-old's current contract with Inter expires in 2026, and he has been linked with a summer transfer amid reported interest from Barcelona, but the forward claimed that he would love to continue in Milan while hinting he could sign a new deal with the club after winning the 2023-24 Scudetto.

Lautaro added: "They say I am a Bandiera, and everyone has treated me in a special way since I arrived. I am grateful. You never know what can happen in football, but surely I am happy in Milan and I want to extend. We suffered two years ago when Milan won the title, so that [April 22] was a special day for us. We’ve had an extraordinary journey. There are players with strong values. It’s not easy to reach a [Champions League] final, but we played great games and we got there [last season]."

Lautaro will be next seen in action for the newly crowned Italian champions on Friday as they take on Frosinone in their latest Serie A clash. Inter will then wrap up their campaign with fixtures against Lazio and Verona.