Inter Milan is set to make a final determination on whether forward Lautaro Martinez will be available for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona.
Martinez appeared to sustain a muscular injury during the first leg last week and was substituted at halftime. He did not participate in training over the weekend and missed the team's recent league match.
Coach Simone Inzaghi indicated Monday that a decision would be made collaboratively with medical staff and the player based on how he feels. “We will decide together with the medical staff, together with the players themselves, because they will be the ones who will have to tell me their own feelings,” Inzaghi said, according to Associated Press.
The striker has been a prolific scorer for Inter this season, tallying 21 goals and providing six assists across all competitions.
Following the first leg, which ended in a 3-3 draw, Inzaghi expressed pessimism regarding Martinez's chances of recovering in time for the crucial return fixture.
However, recent reports suggest the Argentina international has recovered rapidly, potentially making him available for the match at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Inter’s Lautaro Martinez is fit again ahead of the tie.
The potential availability of Martinez could provide a boost to Inter. He has contributed to 12 goals in home games this season.
Defender Benjamin Pavard, who missed the first leg and the weekend league fixture, has reportedly returned to training and is also in contention for selection. Other clubs face similar injury challenges; for instance, Barcelona often relies on defenders like Inigo Martinez.
Regardless of Martinez's status, Inter faces a decisive match aiming to secure a spot in the Champions League final.
According to The Athletic, Inter is set to make a late Lautaro Martinez call before the game.
“Lautaro hasn’t trained since the Barcelona match, today we’ll see how he is and then we’ll decide,” Inzaghi stated Monday.
