Marcus Thuram seems to have replaced Lautaro Martinez as Inter’s most prolific striker, but the Argentina international feels ‘good’ with this reversal of roles as he likes ‘to help the team’ and believes it’s his teammate’s turn ‘to score more goals’.
The attacking partnership with the French striker has proved extremely fruitful since he arrived at the San Siro in the summer of 2023, but while the Nerazzurri captain made the most out of Thuram’s movements on the pitch and 13 assists to become the team’s undisputed top scorer last season things have since changed.
The Argentinean striker is significantly struggling to find the same scoring consistency as in the past campaign, but while he admits to ‘live for goals’ he likes to remark that this also depends on a change of positions that came from the two forwards’ ‘understanding on the field’.
“I’m a striker, and I live for goals,” Lautaro Martinez told Corriere della Sera in an interview.
“But you also have to analyse the match you play. In recent months, I’ve been playing further from the penalty area because I like to help the team move upfield: it’s something I’m adding to my game, and I feel good this way.
“Marcus is playing more centrally and higher up the pitch, but it’s not something we’ve planned, it comes from our understanding on the field.
“Last year, he often dropped deeper or drifted wide, but now it’s his turn to score more goals.”
However, Lautaro Martinez conceded that the lack of resting time after a lengthy season has taken a toll on his condition, although he feels ‘better’ now.
“After winning the Copa America, I came back a few days earlier from vacation due to Taremi’s injury, and I had some difficulties: sometimes, your body catches up with you. But now I feel better,” the striker continued.
“I don’t like resting much, but there are times when my legs don’t respond, or it’s my mind that isn’t in the right place. Both things need to be in sync, and you have to be good at managing them.
“The important thing, even when things aren’t going the way you want, is to always give 100%. That’s something I carry with me, and I try to pass it on to the team as captain.”
Presented with his teammates’ different views on preferring to reach another Champions League final or winning a second consecutive Scudetto, Inter’s captain claims he wants ‘everything’.
“I want everything. Once you start winning, you don’t want to stop because you know how rewarding it is to be paid back for your hard work,” explained Lautaro Martinez.
“And I want to pass that mentality on, even in the smaller games. I was lucky enough to win the World Cup, and I thought there was nothing else to achieve after that, but there is so much more.”
