Italian journalist Paolo Condo feels that Lautaro Martinez is the “heart” of this current Inter Milan team.
Writing in his column in yesterday’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper La Republica, via FCInterNews, Condo noted the importance of the Argentine in terms of giving the Nerazzurri a threat in the final third.
Martinez once again proved his worth to Inter with his remarkable four-goal haul against Salernitana on Saturday.
The Argentine was not in the starting eleven for the match. But once he came on, he left his mark.
In truth, before Martinez’s introduction Inter had been struggling to find fluency in attack.
The Nerazzurri lacked a real reference point in attack, or a player who could finish off their attacking move.
But almost as soon as Martinez came on, there looked to be more coherency and fluidity for Inter across the pitch.
Martinez gave an entirely different dimension to Inter’s play compared to when the team started the match.
The 26-year-old brought a natural striking instinct to the pitch. That had not really been the case when it was Alexis Sanchez pairing Marcus Thuram in the front pairing.
Whilst Martinez did not exactly hang off the last line of the Salernitana defense, there was no question that he was comfortable up against the Granata defenders.
Martinez instantly added shrewd attacking movement that the Salernitana players proved unable to deal with. He was regularly able to enter the penalty area and get on the end of dangerous chances.
Condo: Lautaro Martinez The “Heart” Of Inter Milan
“Lautaro is the heart of this Inter team,” Condo observes.
“He’s the player who dictates that the pass come quickly so it’s not offside.”
The journalist also notes that “Three of Inter’s goals came via the same route to christen Martinez’s magical evening.”
“There were crosses from the left from Thuram and Augusto. And then one from the right from Barella.”
“Lautaro is the player who makes sure that those crosses don’t go to waste,” he adds.
