Lautaro Martinez Explodes at Inter Teammates, Demands Players "Leave" After Crushing Club World Cup Elimination
Lautaro Martínez issued a stern warning to teammates lacking dedication to Inter, demanding they depart the club during an impassioned outburst after his team's shocking Club World Cup exit.
Following their heartbreaking Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain just a month prior, Inter suffered another devastating blow when Fluminense knocked them out of the Club World Cup's round of 16 with a comprehensive 2-0 victory that left the Italian giants with no excuses.
Speaking to journalists after the match concluded, the team captain didn't mince words as he criticized certain squad members for their apparent lack of dedication to the cause.
"This represented our final goal with whatever energy remained, we gave our all emotionally, I'm deeply disappointed, losing is never acceptable to me," he expressed to the press.
"However, I must emphasize that commitment to this club is essential. We're pursuing specific targets, those willing to stay should remain, those unwilling should depart. I witnessed behaviors that troubled me. My desire is to compete for victories because we represent a significant institution, one we've restored to prominence and must maintain at that level.
"Who specifically am I addressing? The entire group collectively. Individual efforts aren't sufficient. As captain, I bear primary responsibility, and I now offer my apologies to our supporters, as another loss is deeply painful. We committed everything and reached this point."
Though Lautaro refused to identify specific individuals targeted by his criticism, Inter president Beppe Marotta openly indicated the captain's remarks were directed at midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who has attracted interest from Turkish club Galatasaray.
"I view the captain's statements constructively," Marotta disclosed to DAZN. "He addressed a crucial principle - when a player loses desire to remain with a team, departure becomes appropriate.
"No individual has explicitly expressed such sentiments. He may have referenced Çalhanoğlu's circumstances, which will be resolved shortly through calm and rational discussion. We'll communicate directly to address these issues, as Lautaro's message aligns with the club's philosophy because this mentality drives our success."
New head coach Cristian Chivu adopted a more measured stance, calling for composure following Inter's tournament elimination.
"Lautaro, like ourselves, possesses fierce competitiveness," Chivu commented. "His overwhelming drive to succeed and achieve objectives has surfaced, revealing his competitive nature.
"We shouldn't escalate tensions further, instead focusing on positives - a new manager and coaching staff have spent three weeks understanding the squad, which isn't simple following season-ending disappointment, yet I observed individuals determined to maximize their efforts, though improvement remains possible. We expect more but require level-headed analysis to understand the reasons."