Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has revealed the origins of his “El Toro” nickname.

The Argentine spoke to Magazine Champions League, via FCInterNews, also opening up about his ambitions in Europe this season.

The nickname of “El Toro” has become ubiquitous for Martinez.

That has been the case for many years already.

And in the last few seasons, the 26-year-old Argentine international has grown significantly in profile.

Martinez has been Inter’s top scorer in each of the last two seasons. And he certainly looks on course to do so a third time in a row barring major surprises, with 24 goals already this campaign.

Martinez inherited the captain’s armband at Inter last summer.

And that has spurred the Argentine on to become the Nerazzurri’s talisman more than ever.

So it is interesting to learn the origin of the nickname closely associated with a player who is at the very heart of an Inter team who are flying high both domestically and in Europe.

Lautaro Martinez Reveals Origins Of “El Toro” Nickname

Martinez looked back, “My family had very little growing up.”

“Without a doubt, the difficulties in my childhood forced me to grow up quickly.”

“As I grew up I understood that I had to follow my own path in life,” Martinez said. “And my path was football.”

“It was my I dream,” the Inter captain said. “Because my family lives for sport.”

Martinez noted that “When I was at Racing, my first professional club, a teammate started calling me El Toro because I was always angry and threw myself into every challenge.”

“The nickname came from there,” he explained.

“And it’s stuck with me since then.”

Martinez reflected that “The phrase, ‘What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger’ refers to everything I went through as a child.”

“As well as some moments in the years that followed.”

“It’s a phrase I identify with. It’s important. I carry it with me.”

And Martinez also talked about Inter’s Champions League dreams this season.

“It’s obvious that the Champions League is a significant objective for a club like Inter,” the 26-year-old said.

“Having a group of brothers and friends who are all rowing in the same direction, whether they play or not, is very important for the team,” the Nerazzurri captain said.

“To keep pushing. That’s how things start to get easier.”