The Truth Behind Lautaro's "Lone Wolf" Controversy: The Real Reason Behind Inter's Forward Overhaul

Inter Milan has reached a preliminary agreement with Bayern Munich for the transfer of Benjamin Pavard, with a fixed fee of €30 million plus €2-3 million in add-ons. As Bayern prepares to bring in a backup full-back, the Frenchman is expected to arrive in Milan this week for a medical. The transfer market is always unpredictable, but so far, Inter has done well with this deal. Meanwhile, the club is also pushing forward with plans to revamp their forward line. Real Betis from La Liga and two Premier League clubs, including Bournemouth, have shown interest in acquiring Joaquín Correa on loan.

According to transfer experts, if Correa leaves on loan, Inter is expected to bring back Alexis Sánchez on a one-year deal with an annual salary of around €2.5 million. However, if Correa can be sold outright — a highly unlikely scenario given the market conditions — Inter might then raise their level of investment in a new forward. Many have questioned why Inter would consider re-signing Sánchez, a player they paid to release just a year ago amid a not-so-pleasant departure, as confirmed by Inter's CEO Giuseppe Marotta in a recent interview. The reasons are multifaceted: Sánchez's salary has been drastically reduced from €7.5 million net to €2.5 million, making him a much more affordable option. Additionally, the player has turned down lucrative offers from the Middle East to continue playing in the Champions League, proving his desire and commitment to compete at the highest level. But perhaps most importantly, Inter is looking to solve their biggest issue from last season — a problem that has often been misattributed to Lautaro Martínez.

Lautaro Martínez: The Underappreciated Evolution

Today marks the 26th birthday of Lautaro Martínez, a player who is entering the prime years of his career. Since the start of 2023, Lautaro has averaged a goal every 89.81 minutes, outpacing stars like Victor Osimhen, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, making him the most efficient striker in Europe's top leagues during this period. The praise has been widespread, with some of it well-deserved. For example, many have noted Lautaro's significant improvements in his close control and ability to escape markers. La Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out that the captain's armband has enhanced his sense of responsibility and fighting spirit. However, there have also been critics who accuse Lautaro of becoming "selfish," claiming that his supposed lack of willingness to pass has stifled the productivity of Inter's other forwards.

Some even suggest that Marcus Thuram's inability to score in both preseason and early league matches is a result of Lautaro’s reluctance to pass. But is this true? Anyone who has watched Inter’s matches closely over the past few seasons would know it’s not the case. Lautaro has shown consistent improvement in his ability to set up his teammates. In the 2021-22 season, he averaged 2.87 key passes per game. This number increased to 3.29 in the 2022-23 season and reached 5.56 last season. Consequently, his assists have also climbed from six in the 2021-22 season to seven in 2022-23, and ten across all competitions last season. When you put in the work, the stats will follow — a fundamental rule in football.

Last season, Lautaro was among the top five players in Serie A for creating "big chances" for teammates. This trend has continued into the current season; in both friendlies and official matches, Thuram's best scoring opportunities have predominantly come from Lautaro’s assists. The reason Lautaro registered "only" ten assists last season is not due to selfishness but rather the poor finishing ability of Inter's forward line — arguably the worst it has been in years.

Inter's Finishing Problem: The Real Issue

None of Inter's forwards last season had a shot conversion rate above 20%. Nicolo Barella, primarily a midfielder, ended up with the highest conversion rate at 18%, mostly due to his long-range efforts. Lautaro, despite frequently missing chances, led the forwards with a 16% conversion rate. Romelu Lukaku, a symbol of joyful football, was only slightly behind at 15%. Edin Džeko fared the worst; despite having the highest proportion of shots taken inside the box, he scored just 9 goals from 73 attempts, a conversion rate of 12%, even lower than Correa's 14%. Džeko's lack of criticism is likely because the World Cup took most of the heat off him, whereas the Lu-La (Lukaku-Lautaro) partnership was under more scrutiny.

Inter paid the price for their poor finishing on numerous occasions last season. They lost several matches they should have won comfortably, and in other games, they expended far more energy than necessary to secure victories. There were also plenty of matches where dominant performances turned into narrow wins, much to the frustration of their fans. Sporting director Piero Ausilio made it clear that Inter aimed to enhance their attacking prowess, specifically targeting forwards "who can score more goals."

If Sánchez replaces Correa, it could improve Inter's ability to convert chances. While Sánchez's trademark abilities — dribbling and ball progression — have noticeably declined (even during his final season at Inter), he has shown a knack for taking his chances effectively. In Ligue 1 last season, he scored 14 goals from 63 shots, boasting a conversion rate of around 20%. During Inter’s title-winning season, his conversion rate was even better at 25%, meaning he scored once for every four shots he took.

Moreover, Sánchez’s high shooting accuracy has consistently created rebound opportunities for his teammates. Last season, he generated 11 big chances for Olympique de Marseille in this way. If Inter's teammates improve their ability to capitalize on these chances, Lautaro’s assist numbers could rise even higher, surpassing the ten-assist mark from last season. Inter seems poised to help their captain maximize his stats, not just in terms of goals but also assists.

A Closer Look at Lautaro's Impact

Lautaro Martínez has been central to Inter’s attack for years, and his role has only grown since he was given the captain's armband. Accusations of selfishness ignore the broader context of Inter's struggles and Lautaro’s development as a more complete forward. His passing, vision, and ability to create opportunities for teammates have all improved. The data reflects this evolution: not only has he been creating more chances for his teammates, but the quality of those chances has also increased significantly.

However, Lautaro's reputation has been clouded by Inter's collective inefficiency in front of goal. Critics pointing to Lautaro's perceived selfishness might be missing the real issue: Inter's inability to capitalize on the opportunities he creates. As Inter embarks on the new season, they are not only looking to support their captain by adding players like Sánchez, who have a proven track record in converting chances, but also to provide more depth and versatility in the forward line.

Inter is betting that with Sánchez’s experience and Lautaro’s growing maturity and creativity, they can overcome last season's shortcomings. The forward overhaul aims to address precisely these issues, allowing Inter to become a more clinical side in front of goal. The club’s strategy is to maximize Lautaro's output — a plan that involves improving the team's finishing capabilities, which could ultimately help them challenge for silverware once again.

The road ahead for Inter and Lautaro is one filled with potential, as long as the right moves are made in the transfer market and on the pitch. Lautaro is far from a "lone wolf"; instead, he is a player evolving to meet the needs of his team, growing into his role as captain, and striving to bring Inter back to the pinnacle of Italian and European football.