Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez reveals psychological therapy and post-retirement exit plans

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has disclosed that he was tempted to leave the club following their elimination from the 2025 Club World Cup, citing devastation after a 2024-25 campaign that featured a Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite recently helping Inter secure the Serie A and Coppa Italia double, Martinez admitted to profound personal struggles, revealing he has been undergoing psychological therapy for several years to manage performance anxiety and personal issues.

The Argentine striker detailed a period of inactivity following the Club World Cup exit, during which he took a three-week vacation without training and gained weight. In the aftermath, Martinez confronted teammates in the locker room who expressed a desire to leave the squad, urging them to find new clubs if they lacked motivation. He credited new coach Cristian Chivu with bringing "fresh air" to the team, noting he contacted the former defender immediately upon his appointment and had no doubt regarding his ability to lead.

Martinez emphasised that his development on the pitch is closely linked to the mental work he undertakes behind the scenes. He described therapy as essential for managing moments of self-doubt, particularly after failing to score, and noted that a psychologist supported him through a recent 46-day injury layoff. While he acknowledged the support of former coach Simone Inzaghi, who led the team for four years, Martinez stated that Chivu’s arrival provided a necessary shift in atmosphere.

The captain expressed a strong desire to end his career at Inter Milan, citing his family’s established life in the city, including a restaurant they own and their children’s schooling. Martinez, who is third in Inter’s all-time goalscoring list with 175 competitive goals, joked that overtaking Giuseppe Meazza’s record of 284 goals would require him to take penalty kicks. He dedicated the recent domestic double to his grandmother, Olga, who worked as a cleaner in his childhood school.

Looking beyond his playing days, Martinez stated he would not remain in the football industry, describing the environment as one he dislikes. He promised to "disappear" from public life after retirement, a decision influenced by his upbringing in Bahia Blanca, where his father, a former footballer, reinvented himself as a nurse after relegation, and his mother worked as a housekeeper. Martinez confirmed his parents attended recent celebrations but will not attend the upcoming World Cup due to work commitments.