Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has looked “liberated” without his former strike partner Romelu Lukaku.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
One of the many subplots to this evening’s clash between Inter and Roma will concern the two strikers on opposite sides of the pitch.
For two years between 2019 and 2021, Martinez and Lukaku had formed a very fruitful strike partnership at Inter.
It had undoubtedly been the Belgian who was the bigger goal threat in that duo. Martinez, meanwhile, proved to be an ideal foil to get the best out of Lukaku.
Then in Lukaku’s absence in the 2021-22 season, Martinez started to shine as a lone striker and goal threat.
When the Belgian returned last season on loan from Chelsea, there were some questions about what the exact dynamic would be.
But it was Martinez who continued to be Inter’s biggest outlet for goals. Particularly given injury struggles from Lukaku, the Argentine was now Inter’s “main man.”
Lautaro Martinez “Liberated” At Inter Without Romelu Lukaku
Given the manner in which Lukaku departed Inter during the summer, there is no doubt that Martinez has fully moved beyond the old strike partnership.
Marcus Thuram arrived during the summer. And instead of Martinez being a foil to the new arrival, the Frenchman is now a player accentuating Martinez’s goalscoring traits.
The 26-year-old now wears the captain’s armband for Inter.
And he has responded with the best goalscoring form of his entire Nerazzurri career at the start of the current season.
Martinez has scored an eye-watering eleven goals in Inter’s first nine Serie A matches. And he has also bagged another in the Champions League.
Without Lukaku as a strike partner, the Argentine has been free to really become a dominant presence in attack.
And it has “liberated” him to become more prolific in front of goal than ever.
