Inter Milan's struggles deepened after a defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League, with Lautaro Martínez now facing several weeks out due to a left hamstring strain sustained in the match. Medical tests confirmed the injury, and while the club has not specified a return date, reports suggest the 29-year-old could miss games through next month’s international break, eyeing a potential return against Atalanta later in the month.
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The upcoming schedule is particularly tough for Inter, who will contend with Champions League matches against Shakhtar and Feyenoord, as well as crucial Serie A encounters against AC Milan and Como. This situation places significant pressure on the team’s grip atop the Serie A standings.
In the short term, Inter could navigate through this period depending on player fitness. Pio Esposito and Marcus Thuram have already played together up front, with Esposito having impressed in early season performances for both Inter and Italy. Thuram is expected to take on the role of the primary forward in Martínez's absence, alongside possible contributions from Ange-Yoan Bonny, who has yet to make a significant impact since joining from Parma last summer.
However, the long-term implications of a hamstring injury for a player in his late 20s raise concerns about Martínez's physical condition, as he has been a consistent presence in Inter’s lineup since joining from Racing Club over eight years ago. Between the 2018/19 and 2025/26 seasons, he missed 207 days (35 matches) due to injuries, including 13 games last season, suggesting that injury layoffs may become more frequent.
This puts Inter in a difficult position, emphasizing the need to lessen their reliance on Martínez. Currently, the combination of Esposito, Thuram, and Bonny may not be sufficient, and if their performances do not improve or Martínez's availability remains uncertain, Inter may have to explore the transfer market for a new striker as soon as January.