Inter Milan hero Walter Samuel believes Arsenal and Chelsea transfer target Lautaro Martinez could ‘easily’ win the Ballon d’Or. But the personal honour is not his target.
The 25-year-old is enjoying a remarkable campaign that could feature the top prizes in club and international football. Martinez helped Argentina lift the World Cup at Qatar 2022 and has now fired Inter Milan into the Champions League final along with the Coppa Italia final.
Inter Milan dumped AC Milan out of the Champions League with a 3-0 aggregate win in the semi-finals. Martinez scored the only goal of the second leg on Tuesday night with his 25th strike of the season so far. The 48-cap attacker has further laid on 10 assists over 52 games.
Inter Milan star Martinez is a summer transfer target of Arsenal
Manchester City stand in Inter Milan’s way of winning the Champions League on June 10 in Istanbul. While the San Siro side will face Fiorentina on May 24 in the Coppa Italia final. The Nerazzurri have already won the Italian Supercoppa thanks in part to Martinez this season.
The striker having a hand in 35 goals over all competitions so far this term has also sparked vast interest. Inter Live reported earlier this week that Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are now rivalling Chelsea and Manchester United to strike Martinez’s transfer from Inter Milan.
Additionally, Arsenal ‘could do everything’ they can to secure Martinez’s transfer with the Gunners intent on backing Mikel Arteta. Emirates Stadium chiefs have made at least €200m (£174m) available to the Spaniard after guaranteeing their place in the Champions League.
Arsenal are intent on strengthening ahead of returning to UEFA’s premier club tournament. But Inter Milan would want at least €80m (£69.5m) to sell Martinez, who is under contract through to June 2026. The Nerazzurri gave him a new, £184k-a-week deal in October 2021.
What has Samuel said about Martinez winning the Ballon d’Or?
Martinez is proving his worth for the San Siro side, though, having also adopted their club captaincy this year. He replaced Milan Skriniar in the role of vice-captain in February. Samir Handanovic is Inter Milan’s official club captain but has only featured sparingly this season.
The goals that Martinez has produced for Inter Milan to earn interest from Arsenal et al in his transfer have also convinced Nerazzurri hero Samuel that he can contend for the Ballon d’Or. But the former defender does not believe the striker is prioritising winning individual titles.
Samuel told TuttoMercatoWEB: “The thing he wants, like everyone else, is to win matches and cups. Personal prizes come later but he could easily win the Ballon d’Or.”
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