There’s no doubt about it – Lautaro Martinez will start for Inter against AC Milan, despite returning late from international duty.
This according to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNews.
One headache for Inter coach Simone Inzaghi to deal with ahead of the Milan derby concerns the fitness of Martinez.
The Nerazzurri captain is currently on international duty with the Argentine national team.
And unlike some players who are filtering back from training today or tomorrow, the 26-year-old will not be back until Thursday.
This gives Martinez just a couple of days of training to get back up to speed with his teammates.
Then there will be the question of Martinez having to adjust after the jet lag of flying back from South America.
This is naturally a worry for Inzaghi. Martinez is one of the Nerazzurri’s most important players, if not the single most important.
The Argentine has scored five of Inter’s eight goals in Serie A so far. He is also the player who sets the tone for the team on a tactical level with his linkup play and defensive workrate.
Lautaro Martinez Will 100% Start For Inter Milan In Derby
There could be one or two suggestions of Martinez not starting on Saturday.
When the Argentine had been a later returnee from the World Cup break, he was on the bench for the Nerazzurri’s match against Napoli, by way of comparison. Inzaghi could at least consider the temptation to do something similar this Saturday.
There would be Marko Arnautovic to call upon in place of Martinez. Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez returns on Thursday like Martinez, and has fitness concerns of his own.
But according to Mediaset, Inzaghi still fully plans to start Martinez against the Rossoneri.
The coach is aware that the 26-year-old may not be at his best.
But Maritnez is still too crucial to Inter for Inzaghi to drop in such an important match.
