Inter Milan Vice-President Defends Nerazzurri Captain After Post-Fluminense Outburst: 'He Has Strong Sense Of Belonging'
Speaking to Clank via FCInterNews, Zanetti defended the Nerazzurri captain for calling out several teammates.
Lautaro Martinez made a shocking statement after Inter bowed out of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Indeed, carried away by emotions, El Toro took a dig at several clubmates, including Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Turk was the subject of intense transfer rumors at the time.
More importantly, he chose not to address speculation, fueling doubts over his future while causing tension within the squad.
Calhanoglu's silence prompted Lautaro's firm response, which caused concerns within the upper management.
The Argentine saw the midfielder's behavior as a lack of commitment and felt compelled to unburden himself.
However, Javier Zanetti understands the 27-year-old's reaction.
Like El Toro, Zanetti was a fierce competitor during his playing career at San Siro.
Inter Milan Vice-President Javier Zanetti Comments on Lautaro Martinez Outburst
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 21: Lautaro Martinez #10 of FC Internazionale Milano looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and Urawa Red Diamonds at Lumen Field on June 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by)
'Lautaro has a great sense of belonging and is doing very well at the club,' Zanetti said.
'I'm very happy with his journey. He reminds me of when I started.
'When we signed him from Racing, we knew that with young players, you never know what you're going to get.
'But we made that investment expecting him to grow over time, and he did.
'After the World Cup, everything happened so fast. The match ends, and there's a microphone in front of him.
'These things can always be resolved. Now we're preparing for the new season. I understand him – it was an emotional moment.
'Everything falls on you. The important thing is to rebuild. They posted a photo with Calhanoglu.
'Things get solved by talking. Now we're all focused on the new season.'
Then, Zanetti addressed the club's failed attempt to lure Walter Samuel back to San Siro, albeit in a different capacity.
'First of all, when speaking with the president and sporting director, we agreed we needed someone who knew the club and its environment.
'A former teammate, someone with personality. When you find someone who checks all the boxes, it's ideal.
'We tried with Samuel, but before the World Cup, he didn't feel ready to take on the role.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Travis Hunter's teammate 'selfishly' desires him to play more offense
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has an exciting new teammate joining him on the roster for next season: Travis Hunter. The former Colorado Buffaloes star, like Lawrence, was a First-Team All-American when he played college football. Unlike the quarterback, who won the College Football Playoff national championship in 2018, Hunter quite famously played both sides of the ball throughout college and during his 2024 Heisman Trophy campaign. Lawrence, who was selected by the Jaguars at No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, will have Hunter as a weapon in Jacksonville's offense next season after his team selected Hunter at No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. More: Travis Hunter would rather quit football than choose between offense and defense in NFL Hunter, however, is not particularly willing to choose between playing just offense or defense in the pros. While the Jaguars are taking their time with easing Hunter into both of his positions, Lawrence certainly has a preference for where he wants his new teammate to line up. Here is what Lawrence said, with his full quote and thoughts on the topic: "We're getting there. Obviously, he's playing a little bit of both ways. He's so talented. It's hard to keep him off the field. Selfishly, I definitely want him on offense more. I told him, it's like: Do you want to come catch touchdowns or do you want to maybe break up a pass or two a game? That's a decision you've got to make ... He'll make plays no matter where he's at, honestly, and of course as a quarterback I hope he plays more offense. But wherever he needs to play to make our team better, because he will make us better, is what's going to happen. So I'm all for whatever that is." That is fairly compelling argument from Lawrence if Hunter wants to make some highlight reels. The good news for Lawrence is that while Hunter is listed as a second-string cornerback in Jacksonville's first depth chart, he is considered a starting wide receiver. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Travis Hunter's teammate 'selfishly' desires him to play more offense
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts considers his legacy versus what the future holds
Jalen Hurts' psyche has been discussed so often that it's almost becoming a challenge to find new angles. Who cares? Stories about his journey from the Alabama Crimson Tide to the Oklahoma Sooners never get old. Neither do tales of the shock of seeing him drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round. It's a story that includes Tua Tagovailoa, a carousel of offensive coordinators, and a few endorsements. He helped birth a 'quarterback factory'. He eventually took over as the full-time starter. We can officially state that the decision worked out nicely for Philadelphia. He appeared in two Super Bowls and won one before his 27th birthday. Oh, and by the way, he was named the game's MVP the second time around. Jalen Hurts offers a masterclass on balancing past success with future goals. SiriusXM NFL Radio visits every NFL training camp every summer. A visit to the City of Brotherly Love yielded a sit-down with Hurts. Who knew? Jalen Hurts cracked a smile that quickly followed a game. We're teasing, of course. It's good to see someone so driven take the time to celebrate his accomplishments. Hurts will continue to be his harshest critic. He'll keep on 'keeping the main thing the main thing' because, remember, he had a purpose before anyone else formulated an opinion. A Second-Team All-Pro in 2022, he has found his way onto two Pro Bowl rosters. He celebrated his 27th birthday on August 7. Rarely have we seen this level of maturity from someone so young. Talk about a breath of fresh air. Talk about class. P This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jalen Hurts compares past success to unfinished business
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Game #117: Athletics at Nationals Game Thread
Wakey wakey everyone! We got a super early morning contest today as the Athletics wrap up their time in the nation's capital with the series finale against the Washington Nationals. The A's whooped the Nats in the first game before suffering a walk-off loss in yesterday's contest. Time to finish off the Nationals and head up to Baltimore on a winning note. Left-hander Jacob Lopez is set to take the ball this morning for what will be his 14th start of the year. The 27-year-old has come a long way since the start of the season. Beginning the year in the minors before a promotion to the bullpen, then getting a chance to start games for the big league squad and taking advantage of his opportunity. Lopez is bringing a 3.99 ERA into the finale and he's coming off a pair of shutout appearances. He'll be trying to make it three in a row with another strong start for his team. Hope he got to bed early last night! The starting lineup shakes out like this today: Back atop the lineup is Shea Langeliers, his third straight game leading for the squad. After catching the past two nights however he'll get a day off from catching, making way for recently-recalled Willie MacIver to get the start behind the plate. He'll also be batting cleanup. With a left-hander on the opposing mound Lawrence Butler will take a seat on the bench, making way in center field for the righty-swinging Colby Thomas. And second baseman Luis Urias finally returns to the lineup after missing the past two games. That'll shift Max Schuemann over to the hot corner. The rest of the batting order has all the regulars you'd expect like Brent Rooker and Nick Kurtz in their usual spot near the top of the lineup. For Washington, the fellow cellar dwellers will go with their own left-hander in Mitchell Parker. Now in his second season in the big leagues with the Nats, his sophomore season has gone a lot harder than his rookie campaign. After a hot start to the year Parker has gotten hit hard on a regular basis. He's given up four or more runs nine times in 22 starts, including his most recent outing when he got shelled for eight earned runs in just four innings of work. If something is off in his mechanics then A's hitters need to take advantage of that and jump on the young lefty early if they want to escape D.C. with a pair of wins. And here's how Washington's starting nine looks for this early-morning finale: Can the A's claim their 51st victory? Time for a series win! Let's go A's!
