Inter Milan Superstar Not Called Up To Argentina Squad For Asian Tour To Treat Ankle | OneFootball

Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is not in the Argentina national team squad for an upcoming tour of Asia so that he can focus on treatment for ankle issues instead.

This according to Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports, via FcInterNews, who report the reason Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni has left the 25-year-old Nerazzurri striker out of the World Cup winners’ squad for the tour.

Martinez was part of Argentina’s squad that won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The 25-year-old had his contribution, including scoring the winning penalty in a quarterfinal shootout against the Netherlands.

However, in truth it was an underwhelming tournament from Martinez even if it ended in glory for his team.

The Inter striker was benched by Scaloni after the Albiceleste’s second group stage match against Mexico. He never regained his place in the team, always benched for Julian Alvarez thereafter.

During the tournament, Martinez admitted that he was playing through significant pain in his ankle.

The 25-year-old’s agent provided further confirmation that the ankle problem was holding him back significantly.

Lautaro Martinez Not In Argentina Asian Tour Squad

Martinez has admitted that it’s still a painful experience to watch him having to play within himself during Argentina’s World Cup campaign as a consequence of his injury.

The Inter striker returned from the tournament looking refreshed, however. Whilst the 25-year-old did suffer a goal drought that coincided with a bad run of form by the team as a whole, he has been hugely important for the Nerazzurri in 2023.

Martinez put in a match-winning display against Fiorentina as Inter lifted the Coppa Italia. The Argentina followed that up with another excellent performance against Atalanta in Serie A – coming just two days later.

Nevertheless, Scaloni has decided to give Martinez some time off during the summer.

The coach has not called the striker up to be part of the team’s upcoming tour of China and Indonesia.

TyC Sports report that Martinez will instead use the period to work on therapy for his ankle. Scaloni wants the striker to recover from the grueling club season and return at his best, for club and country.