Inter Milan's MVP Curse: Lautaro Faces Rising Risks of Following Vieri and Ibrahimovic's Footsteps Amid Contract Stalemate

In recent years, regardless of the region, whether in the West, Asia-Pacific, or globally, and across various fields such as sports, business, and everyday life, people often declare: "Times have changed." Fans in Milan are particularly nostalgic about this sentiment. Not long ago, they were moved by the dedication of their iconic legends—Paolo Maldini for AC Milan and Javier Zanetti for Inter Milan. Fans hoped that such loyalty and steadfastness, embodied with responsibility, a broad perspective, and a touch of self-sacrifice, could be replicated by the new generation of players. However, in recent years, the situations involving players like Gianluigi Donnarumma and "that person" have led fans to lament that times have indeed changed, and certain values seem to be dying out.

Now, Inter Milan faces the fear that these concerns may again become a harsh reality. The new threat comes from Inter's MVP dilemma. This season's Serie A awards saw Inter triumphing on many fronts. Alessandro Bastoni was named the best defender in Serie A, Hakan Çalhanoğlu won the best midfielder award, continuing Inter's four-year streak of winning this accolade, and Simone Inzaghi was named the best coach. The biggest winner was Lautaro Martínez, who claimed the Serie A MVP award—the most valuable player.

The MVP award, established by the Serie A League (Lega Serie A) in the 2018-19 season, is a prestigious honor. Previously, a similar and perhaps more recognized award was the "Serie A Player of the Year" chosen by the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC), won by many great players like Zinedine Zidane, Francesco Totti, Kaká, Pavel Nedvěd, and Andrea Pirlo. Inter Milan players such as Ronaldo (1998), Christian Vieri (1999), Zlatan Ibrahimović (2008, 2009), Diego Milito (2010), and Mauro Icardi (2018) have also claimed this honor. However, to the regret of a generation of Inter fans, apart from Milito, all these players who won the Serie A Player of the Year for Inter eventually became sources of sadness for the fans.

Friendly observers might sigh, saying, "Times have changed; there will never be another Zanetti." More aggressive fans might use whistles, banners, and even pig heads to curse, "Traitors, they are all traitors!" Among these players, Icardi caused a major controversy with his lawyer's letter incident. Nevertheless, he left Inter with nearly €50 million in tangible funds, which were crucial for the financially struggling club. Romelu Lukaku's unreturned calls last summer led to a complete breakdown in relationships with many Inter players and managers. After winning the championship, Lautaro admitted that his once inseparable friend Lukaku had not communicated with him at all in the past year, effectively becoming strangers.

Ronaldo, Vieri, and Ibrahimović all joined Inter's city rivals. Ronaldo taunted the Curva Nord after scoring in the Derby della Madonnina, angering even Moratti to the point of making an obscene gesture. Vieri, after leaving Inter, took the club to court, causing significant emotional and reputational damage. Ibrahimović's mockery of Inter after AC Milan's championship win was so intense that even Swedish fans asked, "Why does he hate Inter so much?"

Apart from Milito, such tragedies have repeatedly played out, creating what is known as Inter's "MVP curse." Now, Lautaro's situation has also reached a stalemate. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano and team reporter Fabrizio Biasin detailed the renewal negotiations between Inter and Lautaro. Initially, Lautaro's hardline agent demanded a post-tax annual salary of €12 million plus bonuses up to €2 million, while Inter offered €7.5 million plus bonuses. After prolonged negotiations, they met again in Madrid, where Inter raised their offer to €8 million plus €1 million in bonuses, but Lautaro's agent, Camano, still demanded €12 million inclusive of bonuses.

While Steven Zhang was still at the helm, Inter planned to further increase their offer to €9 million plus €1 million in bonuses. However, with Zhang's departure and Oak Tree Capital's takeover, the situation is now full of uncertainties. Many have suggested that if a renewal agreement cannot be reached, Lautaro should be sold. As Gianluca Di Marzio pointed out, there are currently no signs of star players leaving Inter, including the newly crowned Serie A MVP, Lautaro Martínez.

Negotiating a renewal presents several challenges for Inter's management, not just in convincing Lautaro's team to make concessions but also in persuading the new board to significantly raise the salary cap. This is by no means an easy task. Selling the player, especially amid unfavorable market feedback, is equally challenging in terms of securing a good price. Romano's description of the situation as "stuck" reflects Inter's current predicament. This standoff between Lautaro's team and Inter's management is not only a test of negotiation strategy and wisdom but also of patience, tenacity, and rationality. Although bloodless, this confrontation is intense, and if not handled properly, could lead to emotional volatility or even psychological breakdowns, which is why Italian media describe the situation as increasingly risky.

Fortunately, Lautaro's contract runs until 2026, so Inter is not in a state of panic and still has room to maneuver. The variables lie in two potential developments, according to market experts. First, if Lautaro and his agent can make significant concessions, it would demonstrate that Lautaro's professed deep affection for Inter is genuine and not just lip service. Second, if a serious and generous buyer emerges in the market to pursue Lautaro aggressively.

Most Inter fans have expressed their desires: they support all decisions made by the club and hope that the Lautaro issue can be resolved satisfactorily. They wish to avoid another situation like those involving Ronaldo, Vieri, and Ibrahimović, which have deeply hurt the fans' emotions.

As Inter navigates this delicate situation, the stakes are high. The club must balance maintaining its competitive edge while managing financial constraints and player relations. Whether Lautaro will become another chapter in the club's painful MVP saga or break the cycle remains to be seen. The outcome will likely shape the narrative of Inter Milan's future and the ever-evolving landscape of football loyalty and legacy in a changing era.