Lautaro Martínez Suffers Injury

Lautaro Martínez is set to be sidelined for up to a month with a calf injury. The Inter Milan captain was forced off in the 61st minute of Inter's 3-1 away loss to Bodo/Glimt.

What happened?

Martínez underwent tests on Friday which confirmed an issue with his left calf. He will be ruled out of Saturday's trip to Lecce at the very least. The Argentina forward has scored 18 goals in all competitions for Inter Milan.

Why it matters for Lautaro Martínez

This injury could not have come at a worse time for Martínez and Inter Milan. They are set to face AC Milan in a crucial derby on March 8. Martínez is a key player for Inter Milan, and his absence will be deeply felt.

What comes next?

Inter Milan will attempt to return to winning ways at lowly Lecce. They required a 78th-minute winner from Pio Esposito last month to earn a narrow 1-0 win over Lecce. Head coach Christian Chivu called for calm after they lost at Bodo. Chivu told the official club website: "Now we need to regather ourselves." Inter Milan still have a seven-point advantage over AC Milan in Serie A. But the Romanian coach may have half an eye on Tuesday's return meeting when he selects his lineup at Lecce. Lecce are 17th in Serie A but won 2-0 at Cagliari on Monday. They hold a three-point lead over the relegation zone. Martínez's injury is a significant blow to Inter Milan's chances. The club will be hoping he can return to action as soon as possible. As of February 2024, Martínez has scored 18 goals in all competitions. His absence will be felt in the upcoming matches. Inter Milan will need to find a way to win without their star player. The team's performance will be closely watched in the coming weeks. Martínez's recovery will be reassessed next week. The exact timeline for his recovery is still unknown. But one thing is certain: Martínez's injury is a significant setback for Inter Milan.