Page 51 - Soccer360 Issue 104

Left: Lauturo is a power forward who can score goals, by physical, and be the key player for Napoli in any given game
Top: Martinez scoring one of his many goals
Right: Inter Milan and Argentine international forward Lautaro Martinez (R) and partner Agustina Gandolfo arrive for the Ballon d’Or 2023 ceremony
Diego Milito, speaking highly of Lautaro Martinez over the summer, referred to him as a ‘point of reference for Inter.’ Having closely followed Lautaro’s progress since their days as teammates
at Racing Club, where Lautaro made his senior debut in 2015, Milito recognizes his steady development. Initially an understudy, partner, and target man, Lautaro has now emerged as a potential elite and world-class striker.
Lautaro’s journey at Inter highlights his humility, professionalism, and leadership, attributes
that have flourished alongside his technical development. When he joined Inter, he was fortunate to be embraced by the South American contingent, particularly benefiting from the mentorship of Mauro Icardi, a prolific goal-
scorer. While Icardi’s goal-scoring prowess was exceptional, his influence on Lautaro extended beyond the pitch, shaping him into a clinical finisher. Icardi’s tutelage included playing deeper, behind Icardi himself, allowing Lautaro to learn how to contribute from deep positions and enter the play later, a facet still evident in his game today. The arrival of Antonio Conte further amplified Lautaro’s abilities, leveraging his pace and attacking prowess from deeper positions. Moreover, he found a striking partner in Romelu Lukaku, a player with a different style compared to Icardi but equally influential. The Lukaku-Lautaro partnership terrorized defenses, guiding Inter to a Serie A title in the 2020-21 season.
The remarkable aspect of Lautaro’s career is his adaptability and compatibility with different strike partners, from Icardi to Lukaku. This flexibility
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“THE REMARKABLE ASPECT OF LAUTARO’S CAREER IS HIS ADAPTABILITY AND COMPATIBILITY WITH DIFFERENT STRIKE PARTNERS”