Former Nerazzurri, Lazio, and Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo believes Lautaro Martinez deserves a lot of credit for Inter Milan’s form in Serie A this season.
Speaking in the SportWeek insert in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, the Argentine praised his countryman.
Inter captain Martinez was the player who ended up epitomizing his team’s great stumble in the Champions League.
The 26-year-old was the player who missed the penalty that sent the Nerazzurri crashing out of Europe.
And it was a very poor penalty from Martinez. The Nerazzurri captain never looked confident, and skied his effort well over the crossbar.
It was yet another demonstration of why spot kicks remain perhaps Martinez’s greatest Achilles’ heel.
But it should not overshadow the fact that, in virtually every other respect, Martinez has been having an outstanding season.
The Argentine is currently on 23 goals in Serie A. This makes him the clear frontrunner to finish as the season’s top scorer in the Italian top flight.
Martinez could even be chasing a place in the history books – there is a realistic chance of equalling or breaking the all-time goalscoring record of Gonzalo Higuain and Ciro Immobile.
And this form has certainly been at the heart of that of Inter as a whole.
Hernan Crespo Full Of Praise For Lautaro Martinez
Crespo noted that “I’ve been following El Toro since he came to Serie A.”
“I’ve admired his growth,” he said of his countryman.
“Initially he didn’t seem to be so unplayable,” he said of Martinez. “But now it seems like he’s impossible to contain.”
“He’s capable of playing as either a first or second striker,” Crespo continued of the Inter captain.
“He’s someone who participates in the possession phase. And from what I can see, he’s also taken on a certain personality.”
“Inter’s flying form in the league, aside from the excellent tactics of Simone Inzaghi, has to go down to the credit of Lautaro’s goals.”
“And then his understanding with Thuram” Crespo added. “The two coexist brilliantly on the pitch.”
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