Milito backs Lautaro Martinez to stay at Inter amid future speculation
Former Inter striker Diego Milito has expressed his belief that current captain Lautaro Martinez will remain with the Serie A champions for the foreseeable future, while also endorsing Cristian Chivu as a future coach for the club. The comments came during an interview for the new DAZN programme "Giorgia's Secret" with journalist Giorgia Rossi, where Milito addressed speculation about Martinez's long-term plans.
Milito, now president of Argentine club Racing Club where Martinez began his career, dismissed the idea of an imminent return for the striker to his boyhood team. "He still has many years to give to Inter, but for him the doors are always open," Milito said. He recalled Martinez's debut at Racing, noting the player replaced him directly. "You could see immediately that he was an extraordinary boy with an exceptional mentality," he added.
The former forward, who was instrumental in Inter's historic treble-winning 2009-10 season under Jose Mourinho, also shared his thoughts on which of his old teammates are destined for management. He singled out former defender Cristian Chivu, currently an assistant coach at Inter, as the ideal candidate for a future head coach role at the San Siro. "We knew he would become a great coach," Milito stated. He expressed surprise that midfielder Esteban Cambiasso has not yet moved into a major coaching position, suggesting a similar future was predicted for him.
Finally, Milito offered strong support for Thiago Motta, his former teammate at both Genoa and Inter, who recently left his role as Bologna manager following a successful season. Motta has been heavily linked with the vacant managerial position at Juventus, though no official appointment has been made. "I assure you that we will still hear a lot about him," Milito said of Motta. "He is very strong and will have the opportunity to demonstrate it." Motta's potential move to Juventus represents a significant step in his burgeoning coaching career, despite his brief and unsuccessful stint as a player for the Turin club in the 2011-12 season.
Milito's insights provide a notable endorsement from a club legend during a period of speculation around Inter's captaincy and the managerial market in Italy. His confidence in Martinez's continued commitment will be welcomed by Inter fans, as the Argentine striker is central to the club's project under Simone Inzaghi. The praise for Chivu also highlights the enduring legacy of Mourinho's treble-winning squad within the current Inter structure.
