Inter striker Lautaro Martinez is expected to start the 2023 Champions League Final against Manchester City, but it is not clear if Romelu Lukaku or Edin Dzeko will partner him up front on Saturday evening in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Nerazzurri have reached the final for the first time since their 2010 triumph after they defeated city rivals AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals, while the English club eliminated reigning champions Real Madrid at the same stage.
Lautaro spoke at the pre-Champions League final media day, which was organised at Inter’s training ground in Appiano Gentile, and he pointed out that he has no preference of attacking partner for Saturday evening.
Lautaro has no objections
When Lukaku has been at Inter, Lautaro has developed an almost telepathic understanding with the Belgian striker. Despite that, the Argentine admitted that he is capable of adapting his game if he is paired with Dzeko instead.
“They are two different players,” Lautaro said, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Edin likes to have the ball, he comes to meet and link up play with his teammates, while Romelu prefers to attack the spaces and gets behind the defenders to create space for the other striker.
“I get on very well with both. I try to adapt to them and to what the team needs. If I have to attack the space to free up the field for Edin, I do it without problems, the same goes for Lukaku.”
Lautaro warns Manchester City not to underestimate Inter
Inter underperformed in Serie A this season, losing 12 matches and finishing third. However, they have been more impressive in cup competitions in 2022/23, defeating AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana, and winning the Coppa Italia final against Fiorentina.
Having won two trophies already, Lautaro is confident that the Nerazzurri can perform well in the Champions League Final and that Manchester City should not take them lightly.
“Our season has gone so-so in the league, we have not been who we are,” he said.
“In the Champions League, we have had a long and difficult journey made up of unity of mind and good play. We must be what we have been in the last two months: we put the league in order, we won the Super Cup and the Coppa Italia and we are missing the last step.
“We have to pull out all the stops to bring the trophy to Milan, they have Inter to worry about too.”
