Inter's Midfield Injury Sparks Intrigue: Lautaro Martínez's Penalty Generosity and the Question of the Fourth Taker

As club football resumes after the international break, Inter Milan faces a crucial and intense schedule in the final month of 2024. Over the next 30-plus days, the Nerazzurri are set to play nine matches, starting this weekend against Hellas Verona. One of the key storylines heading into the match revolves around Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Inter’s midfield orchestrator and primary penalty taker, who is nursing an adductor issue in his left leg.

While scans ruled out any serious muscular injury, Çalhanoğlu has been limited to individual training sessions, raising concerns about his availability. According to club insiders, unless there is significant improvement, Inter is unlikely to risk him against Verona. In his absence, Kristjan Asllani is expected to step into the starting lineup, but the potential penalty scenario raises a compelling question: who will take Inter’s next spot-kick if Çalhanoğlu is unavailable?

Çalhanoğlu's Absence: A Penalty Specialist Out

Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s prowess from the penalty spot is well-known across Serie A. Despite his streak of successive penalty conversions being interrupted earlier this season, his reputation as one of football’s elite penalty takers remains unchallenged. With Çalhanoğlu in the lineup, there is no debate; he is Inter’s undisputed first choice for penalties.

However, if the Turkish midfielder is sidelined, the decision becomes far more complex. The focus shifts to captain Lautaro Martínez, whose relationship with penalty-taking has been fraught with inconsistency and scrutiny.

Lautaro's Penalty Struggles

Lautaro Martínez’s struggles from the penalty spot are no secret. During regular play, he has taken 22 penalties for Inter, scoring 14 and missing 8—a 36.4% failure rate. Including penalty shootouts, his conversion rate dips further. Despite being one of the designated penalty takers under Simone Inzaghi, Lautaro’s high-profile misses last season intensified the scrutiny.

Two notable instances include his misses in the Coppa Italia against Bologna and in Serie A against Atalanta. The most glaring moment came in the Champions League Round of 16 against Atlético Madrid, where his missed penalty in the decisive shootout drew significant criticism. These missteps led to widespread calls from fans and pundits alike for Lautaro to step away from penalty duties.

The turning point appeared to come this season. While Lautaro remains officially listed as one of Inter’s primary penalty takers, he has demonstrated a commendable willingness to relinquish the responsibility. On three separate occasions, he has deferred to teammates, earning praise for his leadership and team-first mentality.

Lautaro’s Penalty Generosity

Lautaro’s most notable instance of yielding the penalty spotlight came against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League. When Inter was awarded a penalty, Lautaro handed the ball to new signing Mehdi Taremi, who converted confidently. After the match, Taremi expressed his gratitude for the gesture, while fans applauded Lautaro’s humility and focus on team success over personal redemption.

In two other critical moments during the Derby d’Italia against Juventus, Lautaro again declined to take penalties. Instead, Piotr Zieliński stepped up and successfully converted both spot-kicks, solidifying Inter’s position in a tightly contested match. Zieliński acknowledged Lautaro’s generosity, further highlighting the captain’s selfless approach.

However, with Çalhanoğlu potentially sidelined and neither Zieliński nor Taremi expected to start against Verona, the question of Inter’s next penalty taker remains an intriguing subplot.

Who Will Be Inter’s Fourth Penalty Taker?

If Inter earns a penalty against Verona, and the usual suspects are unavailable, the choice becomes more complicated. Several candidates have emerged, but none stand out as clear favorites.

1. Marcus Thuram

The French forward has the skill and composure to take on penalty duties, but his past record raises concerns. In 2019, Thuram missed three of eight penalties and has not attempted a spot-kick since. This lack of recent experience may make him a less likely choice.

2. Federico Dimarco

Dimarco has demonstrated solid accuracy in free kicks and crosses, making him an intriguing option. However, his last penalty attempt came in September 2021 against Atalanta, which he missed. The miss prompted a public apology to fans and a subsequent reluctance to take penalties.

3. Henrikh Mkhitaryan

The Armenian veteran has a respectable penalty record, converting 12 of 15 career attempts. Yet since joining Inter, Mkhitaryan has taken just one penalty, back in January 2021. While he has the credentials, his lack of recent experience in high-pressure scenarios may work against him.

4. Other Defenders and Midfielders

Defenders like Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni have not taken enough penalties to be considered reliable options. Similarly, midfielders like Nicolò Barella lack a consistent history of penalty-taking at the professional level.

Simone Inzaghi’s Decision

Ultimately, the responsibility falls on Simone Inzaghi to make the call. The coach may factor in training performances, player confidence, and game context when choosing the next penalty taker. Alternatively, Inzaghi could leave the decision to the players on the pitch, trusting Lautaro to exercise his judgment as captain.

This scenario adds an extra layer of intrigue to Inter’s clash with Verona. While the result of the match will be paramount, the question of who steps up to the spot—should the opportunity arise—provides a fascinating subplot.

Whether Lautaro Martínez continues his streak of generosity or reclaims the responsibility himself, the outcome could shape not only this match but also the broader narrative of Inter’s season.