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Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi has revealed that star striker Lautaro Martinez is in a race against time to be fit for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final decider against Barcelona at the San Siro.
Martinez has not featured since limping off with a hamstring injury during last week’s thrilling 3-3 first leg and remains one of two major injury concerns for Inter, alongside French defender Benjamin Pavard.
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The Argentine forward has been impressive in Inter’s European campaign, netting seven Champions League goals in 2024, including a brace across both legs of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
“We’ll decide with the medical staff and the players, because it will be them who need to tell me how they’re feeling,” Inzaghi told reporters.
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“Yesterday, Pavard took part in the first part of training, and he felt OK, so we’ll see. Lautaro hasn’t trained since the last match with Barça, so let’s see how he is today, and then we’ll decide.”
However, Inzaghi suggested Martinez is unlikely to feature unless he is fit to start, ruling out a possible start from the bench.
“It’s unlikely that a player who can’t start the match would be able to help us out in the last 25 minutes,” he added, hinting that the striker may not be risked in what could be a season-defining encounter.
With Napoli on the verge of clinching the Serie A title, Inter’s European hopes rest heavily on Tuesday’s result.
Inzaghi also addressed the threat of Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who tormented Inter’s backline in the first leg with a spectacular goal and two efforts off the woodwork.
