Inter Milan Coach Argues Argentina Superstar ‘Deserves The Ballon D’Or’ | OneFootball

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi feels that Nerazzurri captain Lautaro Martinez “deserves the Ballon D’Or” this year.

The Nerazzurri coach gave his thoughts on Martinez’s candidacy for the award speaking to Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews. He also updated on Kristjan Asllani’s fitness to face Juventus.

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez is on this year’s Ballon D’Or shortlist.

Not only that, but the Argentine is not expected to feature towards the back of the thirty-player shortlist in voting.

While an outright victory is unlikely for Martinez, he will almost certainly end up in the top few places.

And if there is a dark horse candidate to take home the award, it could be Inter’s captain.

Martinez led Inter to the Serie A title last season. He did so as the top scorer in all of the Italian top flight.

And then over the summer, Martinez was the top scorer at the Copa America as Argentina won the competition.

This kind of combined success at club and international level is often decisive in Ballon D’Or voting.

Inter Coach Inzaghi: “Lautaro Martinez Deserves The Ballon D’Or”

Asked if he believes Martinez is worthy of the award, Inter coach said “Absolutely, yes.”

“But so are the other players in contention with him.”

“Personally I would give it to all my players for what they’ve done over the past three years at Inter,” Inzaghi said.

“But we have to keep working. Lautaro has to keep doing what he’s done so far over his journey at Inter.”

“And his teammates have to try and put him in the best position to score,” the Nerazzurri coach said.

Meanwhile, Inzaghi also updated on the readiness of midfielder Kristjan Asllani for tomorrow’s Derby d’Italia clash with Juventus.

“Asllani had his first training session yesterday,” the Inter coach said.

“We’ll see how he’s feeling today.”

“He’s an excellent player, and I have total faith in him,” Inzaghi said of Asllani.

“He has Calhanoglu ahead of him in his position, but he’s been continuously growing over the last two years at Inter.”

“If he can guarantee a certain level of fitness tomorrow he will start,” Inzaghi said of Asllani. “Otherwise, someone else will start.”

And the Inter coach also responded by the prediction by Juventus coach Thiago Motta that his team, along with Napoli, are the favourites for the Serie A title.

“At the moment there are not any clear favourites,” argued the Nerazzurri coach.

He predicted that “It will be a more open title race than the last two seasons.”

“Because there are a lot of teams that have strengthened by spending big money.”

“It will be tough for everyone,” Inzaghi said of the title race.”

Of the importance of the Derby d’Italia, the Inter coach said “Let’s say matches against Juventus and Milan are the most important.”

“But I’ve already played ten against Juve since I arrived here,” Inzaghi noted.

“They’ve always been tight. Two went to extra time.”

“Tomorrow will be like that as well,” the Nerazzurri coach predicted. “And then the individual episodes will be important.”