Martinez contract talks can see striker confirm legend status at Inter

Lautaro Martinez is the driving force behind Inter Milan's quest for major honours.

The current top scorer in Serie A has helped the Nerazzurri establish a 16-point lead in the title race.

Last season, the Italian giants reached the Champions League final and they are now aiming to lift the famous trophy.

Ahead of Inter's trip to Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their last-16 tie tonight, we take a closer look at the in-form Argentine.

Record breaker

Martinez is at the peak of his powers. He has scored 23 goals in just 25 Serie A appearances and 26 in 35 games across all competitions.

It is his sixth year at the San Siro, with the World Cup winner still aged a relatively youthful 26.

The striker scored 28 goals across last season, including three during Inter's run to their European final against Manchester City and a further trio of strikes in their triumphant Coppa Italia campaign.

Simone Inzaghi's side last won the Scudetto in 2020-21 and are now honing in on another league title.

On a personal level, Martinez has spoken about the possibility of beating the all-time record of 36 Serie A goals in a single season, which is jointly held by Ciro Immobile and Gonzalo Higuain.

He said: "I know that I have to mature and have real margin for improvement.

"I will go for the record but the important thing is that Inter must win.

"I am happy because these goals help Inter bring points home."

Extraordinary player

With his goals and importance in a team that are regularly winning trophies, Martinez is establishing himself as a legend at Inter. 

A total of 128 goals in 273 games places him eighth on the all-time top scorer list for the club, having moved ahead of Mauro Icardi and Christian Vieri this season. 

Tonight he will try to extend his tally against a team managed by former Inter midfielder Diego Simeone.

The Atletico boss spoke this week about Martinez, who he came close to signing from boyhood club Racing, prior to the striker's move to Italy. 

Simeone said of his compatriot: "He chose another path. In the end, it has been very good for him. We see that from what has happened to him.

"As a kid, he was always an extraordinary player. He's shown it with the Argentine national team, he demonstrates it daily at Inter.

"He's found his place where the coach favours his style of play and he's among the best forwards in Europe."

Contract talks

While Martinez awaits the opportunity to shoot Inter through to the Champions League quarter-finals, some huge news could be around the corner.

It has been reported that San Siro chiefs have been holding talks in Madrid with the No10's agent regarding a contract extension. 

Martinez is thought to be keen to stay with the Serie A leaders but the parties have yet to come to an agreement on wages. 

With the 5ft 9in forward performing at such a high level, Inter will surely do all they can to keep him beyond his current deal which runs to 2026. 

It is, after all, a rare occurrence for any club to have a legend within its ranks and that is what Martinez is on his way to becoming.