Inter Milan “can’t afford” for the shock slump of captain Lautaro Martinez to continue for much longer if they want to get their season firing.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
At the start of this season, Inter captain Martinez has looked miles from his best.
The Argentine has been Inter’s top scorer in each of the past three seasons. And last time around, he was the top scorer for all of Serie A as the Nerazzurri cruised to the title.
Martinez was also the top scorer at the Copa America in the summer as Argentina won the tournament.
But at the start of the Serie A season, Martinez has looked anonymous.
Fitness has seemingly played a big part in this. Martinez was not able to have a full preseason due to the Copa America.
The Inter captain missed out on Inter’s match against Lecce due to a muscle injury. And even when he has been available, the 27-year-old has not been at his dynamic best.
Inter Milan “Can’t Afford” Lautaro Martinez Slump To Continue
In Inter’s first three matches of the campaign, they were able to rely on Marcus Thuram to power their attack.
With Martinez misfiring, the Frenchman provided the goals. He scored braces against both Genoa and Atalanta.
Against Monza on Sunday, however, Thuram also had a quiet evening.
That became a reminder of how important Martinez’s relentless goalscoring has been for Inter over the last few seasons.
Moreover, the Inter captain has not really had the overall contribution that the team have become used to.
Martinez is typically the player who sets the tone for the Nerazzurri, with his linkup play and defensive efforts.
But that hasn’t been the case yet as the Argentine has cut a listless figure.
This has not damaged Inter’s season too much thus far.
But the dropped points in Monza over the weekend was the early warning sign. Inter can’t afford much more of Martinez being in this kind of form.