Lautaro Martinez stored bettering and have become the Serie A number one scorer in 2023-24, however his future at San Siro stays unsure.
Lautaro Martinez’s objective tally in Serie A has elevated steadily throughout his six-year keep at Inter. This season, the Argentinean impressed Inter’s title-winning marketing campaign, turning into the perfect scorer within the league with 24 targets in 33 appearances.
El Toro had netted six occasions in 27 Serie A video games in 2018-19, his first on the Stadio Meazza. There have been vital enhancements ranging from the next marketing campaign, which noticed Lautaro discover the online 14 occasions in 35 matches.
The next two seasons ended with an almost equivalent file: 21 targets in 35 Serie A video games in 2021-22 and the identical quantity in 38 matches in 2022-23.
Lautaro added three extra league targets in 2023-24 turning into the Serie A Capocannoniere for the primary time in his profession.
Lautaro Martinez: Serie A number one scorer retains bettering
The 26-year-old was extremely constant this season, and one of many highlights of his 2023-24 was certainly in Salerno, the place Lautaro scored 4 occasions after coming off the bench and serving to Inter safe a 4-0 win.
Lautaro solely took a break from scoring in April, when he didn’t get his identify on the scoresheet in seven consecutive Serie A video games, whereas his last objective this season got here in a 5-0 victory in opposition to Frosinone on the Stadio Stirpe two weeks in the past.
As Lautaro admitted in a latest interview, his file may be partially defined by a slight tactical change that noticed him play as a pure centre ahead with Marcus Thuram working to unlock defences and create house for his captain.
Inter have modified many forwards since Lautaro arrived six years in the past, however the Argentinean has at all times proved to be a great strike accomplice for everybody, from Mauro Icardi to Edin Dzeko, from Romelu Lukaku to Thuram.
This season, El Toro has additionally had a key position off the pitch, as he was named the brand new captain in the summertime of 2023. Recommendation from different dressing room leaders, corresponding to Francesco Acerbi and Nicolò Barella, helped the Argentinean in his new position, however his dedication and angle in each match proved Lautaro entered a brand new dimension this season.
Lautaro’s Inter future nonetheless unsure
Inter followers hope this can even assist negotiations between the Argentinean and the membership. Each events are keen to increase past 2026, however Beppe Marotta confirmed on Sunday night time, earlier than the final recreation of the season in opposition to Verona which Lautaro solely spent on the bench, that the striker’s wage calls for and the latest shift of energy from Suning to Oaktree have slown negotiations down.
After all, this doesn’t imply Lautaro will depart in the summertime, as he nonetheless has two years left in his contract.
Nonetheless, failing to succeed in an settlement within the coming weeks, would make Inter extra susceptible and Lautaro extra inclined to hearken to larger gives from different golf equipment.
Lautaro reiterated that he’s pleased at Inter and in Milan, however clearly, rumours and hypothesis about his future gained’t stop till he places pen to paper on a brand new settlement.
Time will inform if the Argentinean will preserve bettering on the Stadio Meazza in 2024-25 and assist Inter attain the Champions League Last once more. As Simone Inzaghi stated final night time, it’s time for Inter to rejoice however clearly, extending with Lautaro can be the perfect place to begin for Oaktree’s new period.