Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez is expected to miss at least a month of action after sustaining a hamstring injury during the club’s Champions League defeat to Club Brugge, ruling him out of the highly anticipated Milan derby.
The Argentine striker picked up the muscle problem during the European encounter at San Siro, despite scoring twice in the match, which ended in a 4-3 defeat for the Italian side.
Following medical examinations, Inter confirmed the extent of the injury, stating that the “tests revealed a strain in his left hamstring”.
The setback leaves head coach Cristian Chivu facing a selection challenge as Inter prepare for a demanding run of domestic and European fixtures.
Martinez is expected to miss the Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan on October 31, a significant absence for Inter given the forward’s importance to their attack.
The 29-year-old has scored four goals in Serie A this season, with his finishing and leadership playing key roles in the team’s attacking approach.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Martinez could miss seven matches across all competitions before returning after the November international break.
The fixtures he is expected to miss include Serie A meetings with Bologna and Fiorentina, as well as Champions League matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord.
The injury will also prevent Martinez from joining Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad for the upcoming qualifiers.
Medical staff at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano are expected to monitor his recovery, with a tentative return date set for Inter’s away fixture against Atalanta on November 22.
Inter will hope the striker is fit again for their home match against Stuttgart three days later.
Before the injury, Martinez had been a regular presence in the starting line-up, missing only one match this season: the September victory over Udinese, when he remained an unused substitute.
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His form has included a brace against Napoli and another two-goal performance against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico earlier in the campaign.
Martinez has also been central to Inter’s attacking partnership with Marcus Thuram, helping the team break down stubborn defences.
In the recent victory over Parma, he was introduced as a second-half substitute to manage his fitness, but the intensity of the match against Club Brugge was followed by the injury that now threatens to disrupt his campaign.
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