Lautaro Martinez is now “sitting at the elite table” after the past couple years of heroics with Inter Milan and Argentina.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
The past few years have seen nearly continuous growth from Martinez.
The Argentine arrived at Inter in the summer of 2018. When he first joined, he was very much a young player, still rough around the edges and without experience in European football.
During the two seasons with Antonio Conte as coach, Martinez became a regular starter for Inter.
And the former Racing Club striker did start to show how important he can be for the Nerazzurri.
But it was the arrival of Simone Inzaghi as Inter coach in the summer of 2021 that really placed Martinez at the centre of the project.
Lautaro Martinez “Sitting At The Elite Table” After Inter & Argentina Heroics
In each of Inzaghi’s three seasons as Inter coach so far, Martinez has been the team’s top scorer.
Last season the Inter captain was the top scorer for all of Serie A. This was the first time that he had managed that feat.
The Argentine has had a slow start to the current campaign. He’s on two goals in Serie A compared to Marcus Thuram’s seven.
But there’s plenty of time for Martinez to get back to his prolific best.
Last season was not just a big one for Martinez in terms of goals. There was also the fact that he had captained Inter to the Serie A title in his first season with the armband.
Martinez has become a player who provides Inter with defensive workrate, and linkup play, and leadership on and off the pitch.
And the 27-year-old is also an important player for the Argentine national team.
Martinez had won the World Cup with the Albiceleste in 2022 – but the fact that he had dropped out of the starting eleven amid poor form raised some doubts about his importance to the team.
Martinez put those doubts to rest at the Copa America over the summer, however.
The Inter striker was the top scorer at that tournament to fire Argentina to victory. He scored the winner in the final against Colombia.
And Martinez has continued to be a key man for Argentina. He scored against Bolivia during the international break.