Page 47 - Soccer360 Issue 104

INTER’S
GOAL
MACHINES
INTER’S STRIKE PAIR LAUTARO MARTINEZ AND MARCUS THURAM HAVE BEEN RELENTLESS IN 2023-24. STEPHEN KASIEWICZ TAKES
A CLOSER LOOK AT THEIR GOALSCORING DOUBLE ACT.
Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between FC Inter and AS Roma
As Romelu Lukaku was whistled out of
San Siro his replacement Marcus Thuram basked in the glory of scoring Inter’s winner. The Nerrazzuri’s victory over Roma in late October marked not only the changing of the striking guard but confirmed a devastating new partnership between talisman Lautaro Martinez and summer signing Thuram.
Lukaku and Lautaro had formed the deadly ‘LuLa’ attacking duo which combined to seal the Serie A title in 2020-21 and took the Italian giants to the Champions League final last year. The Belgian powerhouse had been expected
to become a permanent Inter player after a complicated deal with Chelsea was agreed. Instead Lukaku shunned the club as secret negotiations with Juventus and city rivals Milan emerged. Eventually the 30-year-old inked
a deal with Roma as Inter quickly dropped their interest and signed free agent Thuram from Borussia Monchengladbach instead.
Not only has the Frenchman - the son of legendary Parma and Juventus defender Lilian Thuram - dispelled any doubts about his ability but he has formed an instant connection with Martinez. The ‘ThuLa’ pairing fired Inter back to the top of Serie A in a blistering opening salvo which tore opposition defences apart.
Thuram struck his first league goal and laid on another for Martinez as Simone Inzaghi’s side hit four past Fiorentina. The 26-year-old French international followed it up with a sensational curler as Inter stunned Milan 5-1 in the Derby della Madonnina.
Argentinian World Cup winner Martinez has bordered on unplayable as he has benefitted from Thuram’s unselfish link up play and movement. He netted an incredible four times as a second half substitute at Salernitana as Thuram provided another assist.
The early signs suggest there is far more to come from the blossoming double act who could lead Inter all the way to the Scudetto.
Lukaku whitsled off to Roma, leaving room for Marcus Thurman to shine
ASSIST AFTER ASSIST
As of November 27, No player has provided more assists than Jeremy Toljan in Serie A this season: 5, level with Marcus Thuram.
ONLY MESSI HAS MORE
As of November 27, Only Lionel Messi (23) has scored more goals from outside the box than Genoa winger Ruslan Malinovskyi (16) among players in the Big-5 European Leagues.
6 AGAINST BOLOGNA
Giacomo Bonaventura has scored six Serie A goals against Bologna, his joint-most in the competition. He has now been involved in 100 goals in Serie A (61 goals and 39 assists)
Sassuolo’s Jeremy Toljan (R) and Spezia’s Daniel Maldini (L)
Ruslan Malinovskyi of Genoa in action
his current contract expires looked slim to none in
a fraught September week of claim and counter- claim. A carefully worded statement, no doubt issued directly from De Laurentiis, appeared on
the Napoli club website which said there was no intention to mock or make fun of the attacker. It also added that the fact Napoli had flatly refused to consider any offers for Osimhen in the summer was a clear indication of how much they valued him.
No direct apology was offered despite the conciliatory tone of the public communication. Osimhen eventually responded with his own statement which talked of his love for the people of Napoli and his unwavering pride in wearing the
Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram have built a formidable attacking partnership at Inter
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