Lautaro opens up on Inzaghi’s Inter departure and Champions League final defeat | OneFootball

Inter forward Lautaro Martinez has given a lengthy interview to France Football as one of the candidates in the shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

The Argentine striker discussed a range of topics, some related to football, others just on his personal life.

One of the major talking points for the interview was the Nerazzurri’s 5-0 Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and the departure of head coach Simone Inzaghi shortly after.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – SEPTEMBER 04: Lautaro Martínez of Argentina celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Argentina and Venezuela at Estadio Más Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on September 04, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)

Inzaghi exit had no impact on poor end to Inter season – Lautaro

Lautaro was asked, with quotes via FcInterNews, whether or not Inzaghi’s imminent departure had any impact on Inter’s poor end to the season in which they missed out on both Serie A and Champions League glory by the narrowest of margins. To this, he said “absolutely not.”

The Argentine continued, “Everyone is free to make their own decisions. The coach never told us he’d received an offer or that he was leaving. So we were far removed from all the rumours and focused on our objectives.”

Martinez had some kind words to say about Inzaghi, who left the Nerazzurri to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, “He always demonstrated professionalism. We felt very comfortable with him, he was our driving force.”

epa12148206 Lautaro Martinez of Inter looks disappointed after losing the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale Milano in Munich, Germany 31 May 2025. EPA-EFE/FILIP SINGER

Lautaro Martinez opens up on Champions League ‘pain’

Inter’s 5-0 Champions League final defeat was the heaviest in the competition’s history and Lautaro has revealed the Nerazzurri were “unable to implement what we had planned” against a “strong, confident and solid” PSG side.

Martinez also told France Football that he was not 100% fit at the end of the season after pulling a muscle in the club’s away match against Barcelona.

After the club’s trophyless end to the campaign, the Argentine spoke of the “deepest pain I’ve ever felt”, unable to speak to his teammates for five days in the wake of the loss to PSG. “I wanted to talk to my teammates but I couldn’t. Nothing came out. I was stuck. I was a little anxious and sad because it was a tough blow. We had the chance to win three trophies and in the end, we found ourselves with none.”