Heart and spirit
Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, 58th minute. Corner kick for Inter. The ticket to the Champions League semi-finals was hanging in the balance after Harry Kane scored for Bayern Munich. Then, Lautaro Martinez appeared.
As captain since 2023, a tireless leader and striker, Lautaro stepped up at the right moment. Following Dimarco's free kick, "El Toro" – Martinez's nickname – positioned himself perfectly, heading the ball past Joshua Kimmich's feet.
The moment Lautaro scored against Bayern in the second leg of the quarter-finals. Photo: Imago/IPA
Without letting the ball fall, Lautaro Martinez volleyed it with his right foot. The goal sent the Giuseppe Meazza stadium into a frenzy, with the number 10 celebrating with his arms raised high in front of the stands and the tifosi. It was a turning point in the 2-2 draw with Bayern, helping Inter reach the Champions League semi-finals for the second time under Simone Inzaghi.
"The heart and the fighting spirit must never be lacking ," Lautaro Martinez said that night.
That was his eighth goal in the Champions League this season, his 150th career goal with Inter – ranking sixth on the club's all-time scoring list and number one for a foreign player.
Lautaro Martinez is currently Inter's top scorer in the Champions League/European Cup, with 20 goals. He surpassed the previous record of 17 goals held by legendary Sandro Mazzola, which stood for 53 years, in this season's Round of 16 match against Feyenoord.
Mazzola, a European Cup winner in 1964 and 1965, praised him, saying, "Hopefully he will score even more goals and lead the team to the Champions League title. I even hope Lautaro wins two titles like we did . "
The Champions League remains an unfulfilled dream for Lautaro, after winning the World Cup, two Copa America titles with Argentina, two Scudettos, three Italian Super Cups, and two Italian Cups. "La Orejona" (the elephant-eared trophy) continues to elude him.
"In the last two years, we've reached the Champions League semi-finals twice, something Inter haven't done in a long time ," Lautaro Martinez shared.
Lautaro Martinez is the leader of Inter. Photo: EFE
He mentioned: "We were only thinking about getting our job done and fulfilling the fans' dream: to see Inter play in another Champions League final . "
His influence at Inter is undeniable. Last season, he was the "Capocannoniere" (Serie A top scorer) with 24 goals. "Today, there's clearly a more experienced Lautaro, but he still has a burning desire to win and play in finals ," he said.
Almost joined Barca
In Argentina, Lautaro Martinez's talent quickly became apparent. While playing for Racing's youth team, he was moved to the "number 9" position and scored 53 goals in 64 matches.
Thanks to this, he was promoted to the first team, replacing the legendary Diego Milito – who scored both goals in Inter's Champions League final victory (2-0 against Bayern in 2010, under Jose Mourinho's management).
“I saw Lautaro’s potential from a young age. During training sessions, I thought he would become a great champion ,” Milito said long ago, and indeed he did.
After two years, 61 matches, and 27 goals, Vice President Javier Zanetti personally called Milito, and it was Milito who helped finalize the transfer to Inter. The Nerazzurri beat rivals Atletico Madrid and Barcelona .
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Luis Suarez was preparing to leave and Barca were looking for a successor. Once again, Blaugrana chose Lautaro Martinez, through Lionel Messi, and the two had numerous video calls.
Injury meant Lautaro Martinez only played the first half of the first leg against Barca. Photo: Imago
“I was very close to joining Barcelona, I spoke to Leo Messi. But they had financial problems so I decided to stay at Inter ,” Lautaro told ESPN.
Now he's up against the club that almost signed him. In the first leg, Martinez only played 45 minutes due to injury.
He is recovering and eager for the return leg at Giuseppe Meazza (2 AM on May 7th), facing a defense that has conceded 12 goals in their last 6 matches, and without full-backs Kounde and Balde.
Inter's office constantly replays memories of the 2009/10 season, when Mourinho's Inter eliminated Pep Guardiola's Barca in the semi-finals, before beating Bayern and winning the title.
“The Champions League is my biggest dream right now, second only to the World Cup ,” Lautaro Martinez confided in a conversation with Milito. He had already lifted the trophy in Qatar and was looking forward to Munich on May 31st.
To achieve that, he must first help Inter overcome Barca in 90 minutes (or 120) at home, cheered on by the passionate tifosi.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/ban-ket-cup-c1-inter-dau-barca-moi-de-doa-lautaro-martinez-2398120.html
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