Italian media has criticised Lautaro Martinez after the Arsenal transfer target’s Champions League display as Inter Milan beat Porto. His team edged the Round of 16 first-leg tie 1-0.
Romelu Lukaku (86’) struck in the closing stages to give the San Siro natives the advantage. The Belgian took full advantage of a red card to Otavio (78’) for a poor challenge on Hakan Calhanoglu. He turned in the rebound after heading Nicolo Barella’s delivery onto the post.
Simone Inzaghi gave Martinez his 33rd appearance for the season so far plus the captain’s armband for the UEFA clash. But the striker could not add to his 16 goals and seven assists that have charmed Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal boss is driving his club’s interest in a transfer.
That is according to TEAMtalk, which reports Arteta is a big fan of Martinez and also wants Arsenal to secure his transfer from Inter Milan. But Chelsea and Manchester United are set to fight for his services, as well. The Premier League rivals all consider him a leading target.
Clubs exploring a transfer for Martinez also know that Inter Milan may have to sell some of their prized assets. But San Siro chiefs would demand far more than £50m for the forward, whose contract runs to 2026. Arsenal also hold a long-term interest in Martinez’s transfer.
Italian media slams Arsenal transfer target Martinez for his Inter Milan exploits
Martinez disappointed some in the Italian media with the Arsenal transfer target’s exploits for Inter Milan against Porto, though. He could have given Inzaghi’s side a lead 13 minutes into the last 16 clash. But the Argentine sent his header wide of the post whilst unmarked.
“Tarnished compared to his magic moments,” TuttoMercatoWEB declared. “He fights and slams for his teammates, as always. But he also has two sensational goalscoring [chances] and doesn’t exploit them as much as he can. He will make up for it when he returns.”
Martinez fashioned a host of chances to put Inter Milan in front against Porto. But he fired another shot wide to the left from the centre of the box and headed wide to the right from a central position. The Dragoes also blocked the 25-year-old’s final attempt on 82 minutes.
Porto often resorted to fouling the 2022 World Cup winner, as well, as Martinez regularly won free-kicks. Per SofaScore, no player bar Martinez (4) was fouled more than twice. He also lost possession just nine times, the joint-seventh-most times by an Inter Milan player.
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