Materazzi: “Lautaro is the true king of Milan, he didn’t abandon ship like others’

Former Inter defender Marco Materazzi expressed his delight over Lautaro Martinez’s contract renewal, emphasizing the striker’s deepened commitment to Inter. Materazzi was speaking with Sky Sport Italia about a range of subjects related to the Nerazzurri, starting with the clubs Champions League final experiences last season:

“I believe that last year, after the lost final, we drew a lot from it. This season, they have shown their strength in every match, knowing they are superior, even in the Champions League. If we look at the first match against Atletico Madrid, we probably deserved to score more goals, and maybe we would be telling a different story. From that point, they strung together victory after victory, winning the scudetto at Milan’s home ground, which is quite significant. Now, Lautaro’s renewal is a signal; it’s a wonderful thing. He is still young, but he’s the captain and somewhat of a father figure to many of the players, like Thuram. He is the true king of Milan and didn’t abandon the ship, unlike others who didn’t believe in what the club was doing.”

“The end of the Zhang era? It’s a shame. I didn’t expect it because I’m not involved in these matters. I know there are very capable people who have proven their worth over the years, like Marotta, Ausilio, Antonello, and everyone who works to bring 75,000 people to the stadium, along with the players, and that’s not a given. I thank Steven for what he has done; he promised trophies, and eight have been delivered. The new arrivals have given free rein to those who understand football and are already within the club, something that hasn’t been done on the other side of Milan…”