Lautaro Martinez, the Argentine forward who has been playing for Inter Milan since January 2019, is set to retire from professional football at the end of the season. The news was announced on Wednesday by Inter President, Antonio Conte.
Martinez, who was born in Argentina but raised in Italy, made his debut with Inter as a teenager before making his full international debut for Argentina in 2016. He quickly established himself as one of the best young players in Europe, scoring 55 goals in just 148 appearances for Inter.
The 27-year-old was also part of the Argentina team that reached the final of the Copa America in 2019, where they lost to Brazil. Despite not winning any major titles with Inter, Martinez has always been known for his work ethic and dedication to the sport.
In an interview after being named the Player of the Season in Serie A last year, Martinez said: "I want to thank everyone who supported me during my time at Inter. I will always be grateful for this experience."
Martinez's retirement comes after a difficult season for Inter,Serie A Stadium which saw them finish second behind AC Milan in Serie A. However, despite their lack of success on the pitch, Martinez has left a lasting legacy at Inter, and he will be remembered as one of the club's greatest players.
As he prepares to hang up his boots, Martinez has spoken about his plans for the future. "I have no idea what I am going to do next," he said. "But I hope it will be something related to football. I don't want to go back to Argentina, I want to continue playing football somewhere else."
Despite his departure from Inter, Martinez remains a beloved figure among fans and teammates alike. His career with the club has been nothing short of remarkable, and he will always be remembered as one of the most talented forwards to grace the Serie A stage.