Inter striker Lautaro Martinez is glad to have cast aside his injury struggles from earlier in 2025, after his winning goal against Atalanta extended his fine run of form.
Martinez scored for the fourth Serie A match in a row for the first time since the autumn of 2021, as Cristian Chivu’s side moved back to the top of Serie A with Sunday’s 1-0 victory over La Dea, going one point clear of rivals AC Milan.
He is now the league’s top scorer with nine goals for the season following a rich vein of form, one clear of Milan’s Christian Pulisic, and he was open in detailing his struggles with injuries earlier in the year.
“I ended last season in a lot of pain with my flexor, I got badly hurt ahead of a very important game,” Martinez explained to DAZN Italia.
“I kept going even during the Club World Cup and international duty, I had a very short vacation, but we must keep going and trying to do better.”
Our skipper pic.twitter.com/XZQg7ESHLC
— Inter (@Inter_en) December 28, 2025
The Argentina international also spoke about the importance of getting three points against in-form opponents, with Atalanta having won six of their seven matches in the lead-up to this one.
He said: “It was a head-to-head because Atalanta are a strong side, who, in recent years, achieved so much in Serie A and Europe.
“They are a team to be respected, they were very aggressive, and we knew what we were going to face today, but we prepared well and have to keep improving.
“I’m happy, this is a gift for all the Inter fans.”
Martinez scored midway through the second half after being sent through by Pio Esposito, who had only just come onto the pitch as a substitute.
Martinez praised his team-mate and talked up the potential of the 20-year-old in relation to the future of Italy’s national side.
“With lads like Esposito behind me, I need to raise the level to keep my place,” said the Argentine.
“I talk about Esposito all the time, he works hard, is eager to learn.
“We all made mistakes when we were his age, so we need to give him the opportunity to do the same without pressure, especially as he is Italian, and so important for the future of Italian football.”