Lautaro Martinez, the stoppage could extend beyond the November break

The issue of the fifth striker is once again making itself felt at Inter. This comes in the wake of Lautaro Martinez’s injury, who left the match against Club Brugge in poor condition: according to Tuttosport, the muscle problem he suffered at the end of that game is quite serious, to the point that his recovery time could extend beyond the international break scheduled for November.

“The date for his return to the field is set for after the league break, but it would not be surprising if Lautaro were to miss at least one more match even after the last international break of the year,” the newspaper reads. “It is still too early to make any assumptions in this regard, as it will be necessary to see how the muscle responds to therapy. What is certain—as is standard practice for the Nerazzurri medical staff (a policy fully shared by Chivu)—is that no risks will be taken, especially in light of the player’s importance.”

Tuttosport then opens a broader reflection on the management of the captain: at 29 years old, the half hour he played against Parma in a match that was already decided is cited as an example of an approach that will probably need to be reviewed. “This highlights how the Argentine needs to be managed and once again brings up the recurring issue of the fifth striker,” the article continues.

With Lautaro and Marcus Thuram both approaching thirty, the newspaper suggests that the club may need to reconsider the number of forwards to keep in the squad compared to previous seasons.