The captain’s armband has allowed Lautaro Martinez to take an even further step at Inter Milan by heightening his sense of responsibility.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, highlight the streak of leadership at the heart of Martinez’s blistering start to the campaign.
Martinez almost couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to this season.
The Argentine has scored five out of Inter’s eight goals in Serie A so far.
This has laid down a clear marker in the race to become top scorer in the Italian top flight.
That’s just business as usual for a player who has led Inter in the goalscoring charts for each of the past two seasons.
Moreover, Martinez contributes a lot more than goals. The 26-year-old has led Inter from the front, both with his linkup play and his defensive workrate.
The captain’s armband is a reflection of the fact that Martinez is the player who really sets the tone for Simone Inzaghi’s team.
Lautaro Martinez More A Leader Than Ever At Inter Milan
The Gazzetta highlight one moment in particular as a demonstration of Martinez’s role in this Inter team.
For his second goal to round off a 4-0 win over Fiorentina on Sunday, Martinez was assisted by wingback Juan Cuadrado.
The former Juventus, Chelsea, and Fiorentina man found his new captain with a pinpoint cross.
This was certainly a showcase of exactly why Inter signed the veteran Colombian. But at the same time, off the pitch the Nerazzurri fanbase was not entirely thrilled by Cuadrado’s arrival. That’s putting it mildly.
The reason for this is the 35-year-old’s longstanding association with the Bianconeri – spending eight years in Turin.
Given the bitter Debry d’Italia rivalry, as well as the fact that Cuadrado has been at the centre of plenty of flashpoint incidents during matches between the two sides over the years, he was always going to face a tough task in winning his new fans over.
But assists like Sunday’s are a good way to start. Cuadrado showed just what he can contribute on the pitch.
And Nerazzurri captain Martinez made sure the fans knew it.
The Argentine immediately went to celebrate with Cuadrado. Highlighting the Colombian’s contribution and the fact that he’s now a part of the team.
This, the Gazzetta argue, shows just what Martinez is now bringing to the Inter cause.