Messi will be Zanetti's first major signing for Inter in 2013

Inter are drawing up a strategy to lure Lionel Messi away from Barcelona which may involve Javier Zanetti, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The 23-year-old was in Milan at the weekend to sign a lucrative sponsorship deal with Italian fashion that house Dolce and Gabbana.

He also had time to dine with Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, prompting the Italian papers to claim the Argentine is falling in love with Milan.

Inter President Massimo Moratti didn’t exactly help matters when he joked with a group of supporters that Messi will be a gift for them in January.

La Gazzetta dello Sport now believes Inter have a long-term strategy to sign the Ballon d’Or winner.

Inter already have good relations with Messi’s entourage, so much so that when Manchester City reportedly bid for him, they were told that Moratti has first refusal.

The Nerazzurri’s chief technical director Marco Branca has already met the player’s father in Barcelona, who also apparently had breakfast at Moratti’s house.

La Gazzetta also mentions the Messi family’s habit of marrying women of Italian descendent as a possible reason why the player might consider a move to Inter.

However, the pink paper believes fellow Argentine Javier Zanetti could well be the deal breaker.

Inter will apparently launch a bid for Messi in 2013 by which time Zanetti will be a director.

They feel that Messi, could be Zanetti’s first major signing for the club.