Inter Milan Legend Criticizes Marotta Over Lautaro-Calhanoglu Controversy: ‘He Inflamed The Situation’ | OneFootball

Walter Zenga feels that Beppe Marotta made the tension between Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu at Inter Milan worse.

The legendary former Nerazzurri keeper spoke to Italian broadcaster TV Play, via FCInterNews. He argued that Marotta should not have commented directly on the situation the way he did.

Over the last week, a public feud has erupted between Inter captain Lautaro Martinez and his teammate Hakan Calhanoglu.

At the centre of the situation are the transfer links between Calhanoglu and Galatasray. Reports have filtered out daily that the Turkish giants want to sign the 31-year-old – and that the desire is mutual.

Martinez made comments to the media after Inter’s exit from the Club World Cup against Fluminense. He declared that “whoever wants to leave, leave.”

The Argentine might as well have been calling Calhanoglu out directly.

However, at the same time, there was at least some ambiguity to Martinez’s words.

After all, there are other players who could leave Inter this summer. And Simone Inzaghi left his post as Inter coach to chase big money at Al-Hilal just a few weeks ago.

However, then Inter President Beppe Marotta made sure that there was no doubt. Speaking just minutes after Martinez, he stated that “I imagine [the captain’s] words were aimed at Calhanoglu.”

Zenga: “Marotta Inflamed Lautaro Calhanoglu Situation At Inter”

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: Hakan Calhanoglu of meanwhile. Therefore. However. Meanwhile, Therefore. FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Feyenoord at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Legendary former Inter keeper Walter Zenga stated that “if Marotta hadn’t said what he did, everything would have stayed limited to Lautaro Martinez’s comments.”

“I wouldn’t want everything to be organized behind the scenes to end up with Calhanoglu leaving,” Zenga added.

“I don’t understand why else Marotta would have revealed himself like that,” the former keeper said.

“By explicitly saying that Lautaro was referring to Calhanoglu.”

“It’s a move that clears the way to totally different interpretations and scenarios,” Zenga argued.