According to reports, Martinez, who has been one of the standout performers for Inter Milan this season in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League, suffered an injury during the first leg of the semifinals against Barcelona and was substituted, making way for Mehdi Taremi.

It appears that the Argentine star will not be able to accompany Inter in the crucial match against Barcelona at San Siro, which has sparked much discussion about the impact of his absence on Inter’s performance and the players who must fill his place in the team.

Benitez, in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, stated: “You carry something inside you that defines who you are, the path you’ve built that has led you to this stage in the Champions League today. Of course, without Lautaro—if he cannot make it to this match—Inzaghi loses a lot.

But if you noticed, Martinez was not present in the second half last Tuesday either, and yet, there were no shortage of opportunities. It is clear that if he is in the lineup, the attacking potential of this team remains terrifying. But the replacement options are not few, and the team culture has not changed.

Inter knew how to bypass Barcelona. They pushed them to the flanks. This team had the solidity to be present in the opponent’s penalty area, showed its muscular strength and height advantage, both in set-pieces and in practiced plays. And then counterattacks… numerous and effective. The transition from defense to attack and vice versa was a strong point of this team, whether from the wings or through the center.”