Lionel Messi is the World Cup player because “he is always one step ahead of the rest,” according to Inter striker Lautaro Martínez.
Martinez had received tips to sign for his compatriot in Barcelona in the movement window, but the Catalans were unable to reach an agreement with the Nerazzurri even after Messi had finished his attempt to leave Camp Nou.
However, Messi and Martínez have played in combination for Argentina since making their overseas debut in 2018.
The 23-year-old says he is still looking to be informed of the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, a player who believes he understands football at a different point than his contemporaries.
“I’ve known Leo better since we were partners in the Argentine national team than I have faced him,” Martinez told UEFA. com.
“I’ve said it in the afterlife and I’ll say it now and in the future: he’s the most productive player in the world. The fact that he is Argentinian is a pride for us and we realize that we are informed of him.
“For me, he’s somewhere else: he understands the game differently and he’s one step ahead of everyone else. “
Inter will launch his Champions League crusade on Wednesday when he receives Borussia Monchengladbach in San Siro.
Martinez recalls seeing the three-time winners of José Mourinho beat Bayern Munich in the final in 2010, when compatriots Diego Milito, Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti and Walter Samuel played.
Zanetti, who is now vice president of Inter, has incredibly helped Martinez settle in Italy after leaving Racing two years ago.
“Javier is a very Inter guy, and for us [the players] also because he transmits everything that has lived in this club,” Martinez said.
“He did it to me when I first arrived in Italy. Whenever he wanted something, he tried to help me. He listens to me and asks me how I am or gives me a hand with everything I want. “
“He’s there to make sure I’m okay inside the club and also away from home. Above all, it helped me with the language when I arrived, with what the club meant and how we trained. It was very vital in that”. areas, so I’ll be grateful to you. In fact, it helped me when I arrived. “