Lautaro Likely to Miss Starting Lineup for Nerazzurri Derby: Inter Milan and Argentina Begin a Tug-of-War

On Friday night in Italy, Saturday morning in Beijing, Inter Milan will face their first major test of the season, going up against the newly crowned Europa League champions, Atalanta. As the match approaches, the biggest concern for Inter fans revolves around the fitness of their star forward, Lautaro Martínez. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, under the headline “Inter Unwilling to Risk Lautaro,” the Argentine striker has returned to training, but the club is handling his comeback with extreme caution, unwilling to take even the slightest risk. This means Lautaro is unlikely to start in the “Derby dei Nerazzurri” and may not even come off the bench.

Lautaro has been training again in recent days, but Inter have kept him away from full team sessions, opting instead for individualized training. Reporters following the team suggest that Lautaro's issue is not particularly severe. If the team were in dire straits, he could be rushed back to full training. However, Inter have chosen a slower, more gradual approach, easing him back into the fold. The intensity of Lautaro's training on his second day back was not significantly higher than on his first, reflecting the club's cautious stance.

Lautaro, as Inter's most valuable player, top scorer, and captain, is crucial both on and off the field. Yet, ahead of a significant clash like this, why does it seem Inter are in no rush to bring him back? A synthesis of reports from multiple Italian media outlets points to two main reasons.

Tactical Considerations Favor Thuram and Taremi

First, manager Simone Inzaghi believes it is more appropriate to rely on the partnership of Marcus Thuram and Mehdi Taremi against Atalanta. In preseason, Taremi scored five goals and has been in excellent form. Despite suffering a minor injury that disrupted his rhythm, Taremi has already contributed with assists in the first two league matches, quickly adapting to the team's style. Meanwhile, Thuram has also started the season strong, netting twice in Inter's Serie A opener and winning a penalty in the second match.

Lautaro, on the other hand, returned to the squad later due to his involvement in the Copa América and has only just started training again after recovering from his injury. Even if he were to accelerate his comeback, he might not be in optimal condition. Therefore, from a purely tactical perspective, it makes sense not to start Lautaro in this fixture. According to Sky Sport Italia, Lautaro is likely to be on the bench for this high-stakes match. If the game is going well, there will be even less reason for Inter to risk bringing him on.

Sending a Message to the Argentine National Team

Another reason involves the delicate situation between Inter and the Argentine national team. Some Italian reporters suggest that Inter's cautious handling of Lautaro is also intended to send a signal to Argentina's head coach, Lionel Scaloni. The hope is that Scaloni will limit Lautaro's workload during the upcoming international break, avoiding situations where the player might be overburdened with physically demanding or risky tasks. After the Atalanta match, the international break looms, with Argentina set to host Chile on September 5th and then travel to face Colombia on the 10th.

Both of these matches carry a high risk of injury. Colombia is currently the most physically aggressive team in the South American World Cup qualifiers, averaging 16.2 fouls per game, the highest in the region, and accumulating 1 red card and 15 yellow cards — second only to Chile, which has 2 red cards and 14 yellow cards. With Chile currently ranked third from the bottom, they are desperate for points and are expected to play with all-out intensity, potentially disregarding any risks involved.

After the international break, as players return to their clubs, the UEFA Champions League will begin, and Inter will face a grueling schedule of six matches in 20 days, including a high-stakes Milan derby. AC Milan, aiming to avoid an eighth consecutive defeat, is likely to raise the intensity of the game to very high levels. Given such a schedule, Inter certainly does not want to risk Lautaro for just one "Derby dei Nerazzurri," nor do they want him to be overexerted in the two upcoming high-intensity national team matches, where the risk of injury is significant.

This scenario is seen as a tug-of-war between Inter and the Argentine national team: both sides, under the pressure of high-stakes matches, are prioritizing the player's physical well-being. Inter hopes this approach will persuade Scaloni to use Lautaro sparingly. However, judging from the past two years, expecting the Argentine team to "take care" of Lautaro — to the extent of not forcing him to play through injury or, as seen during the Qatar World Cup, making him play with painkillers — is not easy.

A Test for Inter’s Evolving Forward Lineup

In any case, when Inter step onto the pitch for their first big match of the season, their leading scorer is unlikely to start. If that is the case, it will serve as a test of whether Inter's forward line has undergone a fundamental transformation. Last season, Inter's attack was defined by a “2+2” structure, with two main strikers and two substitutes whose abilities were clearly differentiated. If a key forward was unavailable before a crucial game, there was widespread concern.

This season, Inter hopes to shift to a “3+1” structure, or at least a “2+1+1” structure, which could provide much more security and flexibility in coping with the rigors of a long season and competing on multiple fronts. If Inter can secure a positive result against "La Dea" without relying on Lautaro, it would greatly boost team morale and confidence, and could even impact the strategic planning for competing across multiple tournaments this season.

While all eyes are on this matchup, the bigger story could be Inter's evolving strategy and how it influences the club’s management of player fitness in the context of a packed schedule. Lautaro's situation encapsulates a broader struggle between club and country, and whether Inter's careful management can lead to a more balanced usage of their star player in both blue and white stripes remains to be seen.

For now, Inter fans will have to wait and see if their team can adapt to the challenge posed by Atalanta without their talismanic striker leading the line. If successful, it could mark a significant shift in Inter’s forward dynamics and set the tone for the rest of the season.