Lautaro Martinez feels that he has had a special affinity for Inter Milan ever since he joined the club in 2018.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, the Argentine also gave his thoughts on the expectations that have emerged around the team after reaching the Champions League final last season.

Martinez has become something of a talisman for Inter in the past few seasons.

When the Argentine arrived from Racing Club, he was not initially a key figure in the team. Rather, aged 20, Martinez took time to bed in and find his feet.

But in each season that he’s been at the Nerazzurri’s Martinez’s centrality to the team has grown.

And this season, the 26-year-old has inherited the captain’s armband at Inter from Samir Handanovic.

Martinez has repaid Inter’s faith early on in the season. He has put in outstanding performances in the team’s first three Serie A matches, scoring five of their eight goals so far.

Lautaro Martinez Says He’s “Loved Inter Milan Since Day One”

Martinez said that “The love that I feel for this shirt has been the same since day one. Ever since everyone here made me feel their love.”

“I’m forever grateful for that,” he continued. “And I try to show the fans my thanks on the pitch.”

Martinez noted that “Last season we did a great job. We reached the Champions League final, so people expect a lot from us.”

“We arrived at Appiano [Inter’s training centre] on the first day of preseason with that mentality,” he noted. “Which we’ve then passed on to the new arrivals.”

“We wanted to start strong immediately, I’m happy that we’ve done so.”

Martinez says that early wins, including a 4-0 thrashing of Fiorentina “Send an important message.”

“Fiorentina are always a very tough team to face,” he noted.

“Their quality in possession can cause problems for anyone. But we kept our shape, and won the match through counterattacking.”

Of the early success of Marcus Thuram, Martinez said that “I’m happy for Marcus.”

“He’s been working well in training.”