Lautaro Martinez pulled on the captain’s armband in the derby against Milan and Richard Hall believes nobody more than the Argentinean striker embodies Inter‘s spirit, like some of the former Nerazzurri stars.
Lautaro Martinez was understandably elated as the Derby Della Madonnina on Sunday was decided by his strike in the first half.
Inter’s new captain was the shining light of this team and replaced Milan Skriniar as the Nerazzurri’s leader on the pitch after the Slovakia international agreed to join PSG as a free agent from next season: “I worked hard and wearing the armband makes me very proud,” said Lautaro after his derby winner.
He has certainly strived, especially after the World Cup he won with Argentina in December, scoring six goals in seven appearances for his club since returning from Qarar. Inter fans hope they are seeing a club legend in the making: Lautaro is 25 and has a huge future. He has a World Cup under his belt, a Coppa Italia a Supercoppa Italiana and a Serie A title, so what next?
Lautaro came to Inter with some expectations in 2018, but he was still in the shadow of Mauro Icardi. When the Benamata signed him, I interviewed Sam Kelly, who is running the Argentine football podcast ‘Hand Of Pod.’
“Jorge Sampaoli was watching from the stands on Sunday, and it’s no surprise that Martinez is now being talked about for a first senior Argentina call-up next month for the friendlies against Spain and Italy,” Kelly told me at that time.
“Given how little time there is until the World Cup [in 2018], it’s obvious what that means – and it’s hard to say he’d really look out of place, even if it does seem unlikely he will start. The list of clubs tracking him in recent months says everything. The sky’s the limit.”
The sky is the limit! That is the point. Another point that needs to be remembered here is that everyone saw how hard he worked with Icardi, providing so much for him. Everyone rightly talks about the fantastic relationship on and off the field he has with Romelu Lukaku, which eventually saw Inter winning a Scudetto that will never be forgotten.
However, Lautaro is as selfless as he is ruthless. He is becoming extraordinarily clinical, yet he still manages to be everybody’s perfect partner. Just look at the relationship he has formed with Edin Dzeko, who has had an incredible season, there is no doubt that much of this is down to how the Argentine has played with him. His fellow countryman, Joaquin Correa, has also looked confident when playing alongside him.
It is straightforward: Lautaro does the work, he has an amazing ability to be unselfish and yet ruthless. It is a strange combination. Mauro Icardi, Aldo Serena and Jurgen Klinsmann were all ready with goals and would have that killer edge, but Lautaro appreciates the bigger picture as well as the big target.
His practical attitude is similar to that of Diego Milito and that makes sense as he was under his tutelage at Racing Club. Giving him the captain’s armband seems obvious, but it is also a masterstroke from Simone Inzaghi: the extra responsibility will no doubt see Lautaro improve, the man is a workaholic and understands what that means.
Let us take that into perspective. Inter have other mature characters who are also young, like Nicolo Barella and Federico Dimarco, but Lautaro has been around at the club for a longer time, starting his journey at the Meazza with Luciano Spalletti in charge and continuing under Antonio Conte and Inzaghi.
It seems Inter will not catch Napoli this season, but if anyone can, it will be them. Lautaro can still lead his team to a potential Coppa Italia win and further success in the Champions League. The Nerazzurri have one of the best forward talents in Europe, if not the World, and the Argentine has proved he can be a difference-maker on the main stage.
He certainly did that in the Derby Della Madonnina, as he had done it many times before, with seven goals against the Rossoneri. Only Stefano Nyres has more. With more time to go, Lautaro may break that record and, in turn, become one of Inter’s great.
@RichHall80
Everyone knows Inter made him captain so they can sell him for more money.
Too bad no more matches this season against cousins, to break Nyers’ record. Forza Il Capitano!!!