Inter Milan’s captain, Lautaro Martínez, is expected to be sidelined for the next seven fixtures, including the highly anticipated derby against city rivals AC Milan, after medical staff confirmed a hamstring strain. The Argentine striker had just completed a full 90 minutes in the Champions League clash with Club Brugge on Tuesday, where he managed a brace in a 4‑3 loss. However, a routine assessment on Thursday revealed a left hamstring injury that will rule him out for an extended period.
Inter coach Cristian Chivu addressed the situation on Friday, stating, “He will be out for a while. I’m not a doctor; I’ve been given a recovery timeframe, and he’ll probably be back after the international break.” Chivu’s comments underline the seriousness of the injury and the need for a cautious rehabilitation plan. Martínez’s absence will affect the team’s attacking options as they head into a congested schedule.
The Inter squad will miss Martínez for the upcoming trip to Bologna on Saturday and the Champions League away game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. The club then faces a Serie A run against Fiorentina and Venezia before the derby on October 31. Additional fixtures include matches against Feyenoord and Como before the international break, with the team’s first post‑break match scheduled against Atalanta on November 22.
Martínez has been a key figure for Inter, netting six goals in seven appearances across Serie A and the Champions League this season. His form last year saw him finish as Serie A’s top scorer with 17 goals, a feat he has now achieved twice. Internationally, the striker has also contributed to Argentina’s campaign, scoring twice against Bolivia and Burkina Faso during the recent window.
Argentina’s national team will be involved in two friendlies in November, facing Uruguay on November 13 in Buenos Aires and Costa Rica on November 17 in Córdoba. With Martínez’s injury, Inter will need to rely on other forwards to maintain their offensive output as they navigate the remainder of the season.