Former Inter Milan midfielder Antonio Sabato believes that current Nerazzurri captain Lautaro Martinez is worthy of the Ballon D’Or.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster TMW Radio, via FCInterNews, Sabato also praised Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.
At this year’s Ballon D’Or ceremony, Inter captain Martinez was on the shortlist.
The Argentine finished twentieth out of the thirty-player list.
This was some way from the top, of course. But it was a reflection of the fact that Martinez has had a remarkable year that he was even on the list.
At club level, Martinez helped Inter reach the Champions League final last season.
He finished the campaign as the Nerazzurri’s top scorer. This was the second season in which that has been the case.
And with fourteen goals already this time around, Martinez looks ready to make it three in a row.
The 26-year-old also inherited the captain’s armband at Inter during the summer.
This is a reflection of not just Martinez’s quality on the pitch, but also his leadership on and off of it in this Nerazzurri team.
Meanwhile, Martinez also won the World Cup with Argentina last winter.
Sabato: Lautaro Martinez Worthy Of Winning Ballon D’Or
“I’ve been wishing to see Lautaro fighting for the Ballon D’Or,” Sabato said.
“And now he’s proving that he’s worthy of it.”
“Particularly with Messi and Ronaldo out of the picture, he is capable of winning it,” the former midfielder suggested.
“Thuram on the other hand was a surprise,” he noted. “Even though I already knew of him.”
“He has refined technique combined with a great burst,” he said of the Frenchman.
Sabato also contrasted Inter and Juventus coaches Inzaghi and Max Allegri.
“Allegri is a guarantee of quality,” he suggested. “The trophies he’s won speak for themselves.”
“Inzaghi, on the other hand, is a reformist coach,” he said.
“Thanks to him, Inter have been playing good football recently. I don’t have a clear preference for either, though.”
