Lautaro Martinez has become nothing less than a symbol of a new Inter Milan – starting with his handling of the Romelu Lukaku debacle.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Inter striker Martinez has grown in importance to Inter season on season.

This is certainly the case on the pitch. The Argentine has scored three of the Nerazzurri’s four goals in Serie A so far this season.

That comes after being the team’s top scorer in each of the past two seasons.

And moreover, Martinez brings far more than just goals. His linkup play and defensive workrate are also at the heart of the Nerazzurri’s style of play.

But even off the pitch, Martinez has also become a central figure for Inter.

This summer, Martinez replaced Samir Handanovic as captain of the Nerazzurri.

There are many reasons why the 26-year-old was chosen for the role.

One of them is loyalty. Martinez has always made clear his desire to stay at Inter, even in the face of big offers from elsewhere.

Premier League giants Arsenal, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur have all targeted the Nerazzurri striker in the recent past.

Barcelona and Manchester City have also chased Martinez during his time at Inter.

How Handling Of Lukaku Debacle Shows Lautaro As Symbol Of New Inter Milan

Martinez’s leadership role in the squad, on and off the pitch, has also been a key factor in his emergence as the new captain.

This extends to how the 26-year-old handles difficult situations.

Martinez has a reputation for being a player who is vocal after defeats or setbacks.

And this isn’t always just in purely footballing terms.

This summer, Martinez was faced with a highly awkward situation in the form of the controversial antics of his former Inter strike partner Romelu Lukaku.

Not only did the Belgian’s return to Inter collapse over his reported flirtations with Juventus.

Lukaku also alienated the club’s directors by bafflingly refusing to answer phone calls at the decisive period.

And as Martinez revealed, Lukaku was also radio silence in response to messages from his former teammates.

This was a difficult situation for Martinez. The Argentine not only had a strong linkup with Lukaku on the pitch – the pair also enjoyed a friendship off of it.

But as anyone following the gossip columns in Italy knows, Martinez recently unfollowed Lukaku on Instagram.

This kind of gesture seems to indicate the degree to which the 26-year-old identifies with Inter.

Martinez looks ready to sever a personal relationship with Lukaku, seemingly aware of the responsibility that he has to the Nerazzurri.