Nerazzurri captain Lautaro Martinez has found himself more important than ever in ushering in the Cristian Chivu era at Inter Milan.
Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, note how the 27-year-old has helped the new coach get his message across, and acted as a mentor to young players.
Lautaro Martinez is a player whose centrality to the Inter project has increased year on year.
The Argentine joined the Nerazzurri in the summer of 2018. And he has now played under four different coaches at the club.
Martinez was just finding his feet at Inter when Luciano Spalletti was coach. Then, it was Antonio Conte who put his faith in Martinez and made him a regular starter.
Meanwhile, Martinez’s form only continued to improve under Simone Inzaghi.
Beyond his goals, holdup play, and defensive effort, Martinez also became a leader in the squad, on and off the pitch, as more experienced players departed around him.
Therefore, it was not any great surprise when Martinez inherited the captain’s armband from Samir Handanovic in 2023.
Perhaps there could have been some doubts about whether Martinez would maintain the same status with a change in coach.
But the 27-year-old has quickly answered those kinds of questions.
Martinez has started all three of Inter’s matches at the Club World Cup. He has been arguably the team’s most consistent performer, and scored two big goals.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Martinez has had a bigger role to play than ever.
Naturally, there is an atmosphere and change, if not upheaval, at Inter.
Therefore, Lautaro Martinez is the player the new coach Chivu has turned to to learn the dynamics of the Nerazzurri squad.
The coach and captain have worked together closely to make sure that Chivu is able to get his message across.
Furthermore, the Gazzetta notes, Martinez has also worked closely with the younger players. Nowhere is this more evident than the hand he has given Francesco Pio Esposito.
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