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 replaced by Mehdi Taremi.

It appears that the Argentine star will not be able to accompany Inter in the crucial match against Barcelona at San Siro, raising concerns about the impact of his absence on the team’s performance and the players who will replace him.

Benitez, in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, stated: “You carry within yourself what 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 will lose a lot.

But if you noticed, on Tuesday, Martinez was not present in the second half, yet there were no shortage of opportunities. It is clear that if he is in the lineup, the team’s attacking potential remains fearsome. However, there are plenty of alternatives, and the team culture has not changed.

Inter knew how to outplay Barcelona. They pushed them to the flanks. This team had the solidity to dominate the opponent’s penalty area, showed its muscular strength and aerial superiority, both in set-pieces and in rehearsed plays. And then the 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.”