Inter Milan Hoping To Keep Argentina Copa America Hero During International Break Amid Injury Concerns

Inter Milan are hoping to keeper captain Lautaro Martinez back from the Argentina national team during the break.

This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews. They report that the Argentine could forego international duty in order to focus on his fitness.

At the moment, Martinez is hardly in optimal physical condition.

The 27-year-old made a late return to preseason training. He was actually the last member of Inter’s squad to join the training camp.

This was the result of Martinez going all the way to the final of the Copa America with Argentina.

The Albiceleste won that match. Martinez was the scorer of the winning goal in a 1-0 extra time victory over Colombia.

As a consequence of Martinez’s long Copa America and late return to training, the Inter captain has yet to find fitness.

Martinez was able to start for Inter in their Serie A opener against Genoa.

However, the Argentine looked far from his best, with rust evident in a performance where he failed to trouble the Grifone goal.

Inter Hoping To Keep Lautaro Martinez During International Break

Martinez was not even available for Inter’s Serie A match against Lecce over the weekend.

The captain sat that match out due to having picked up a muscle problem in the lead-up.

And Martinez’s availability for Inter’s next match against Atalanta is also not a foregone conclusion.

It looks as though the 27-year-old will be, at most, fit to start on the bench in Friday’s match.

Martinez has yet to make a full return to training. He is still working on his individual recovery in training, and will do so tomorrow as well.

And Friday’s match will be Inter’s last before the first international break.

Naturally, fitness notwithstanding, Martinez would have an ironclad place in Argentina’s squad during the break.

But Inter will hardly be keen on the 27-year-old travelling and potentially playing in any matches during the international break.

Rather, the Nerazzurri want Martinez to stay back. They are hoping that he can take the two-week break as an opportunity to train.

Martinez could use the period to work back to fitness and match-sharpness without any real rush.

According to Tuttosport, Inter are in contact with the Argentine national team.

The Nerazzurri are making it clear that they hope to not see their captain receive a call-up for the break, considering his ongoing struggles to find fitness after the Copa America.