JAKARTA - Inter Milan's appearance continues to decline, striker Lautaro Martinez is in the spotlight. Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said Martinez must focus and not be bothered by rumors of his transfer to Barcelona.
Martinez - who moved to Milan from Racing Club in 2018 - is expected to move to Barca at the end of the 2019-20 season.
The Argentine forward scored 16 goals before the season was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he has only scored one goal in six games since the restart and missed a penalty in the Nerazzurri's 2-1 loss to Bologna on Sunday.
Inter CEO Marotta - reluctant to part with the 22-year-old - said Martinez needed to refocus as Inter's struggles continued.
"There are two factors to consider, which are competitive and those related to the transfer market, which go hand in hand," Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.
"Inter don't want to sell a 22 year old like him, but this is a time where rumors are circulating. We saw Lautaro a great player in the first half of the season, who caught the attention of big clubs.
"Now, he must find the peace of mind to guarantee the level of Inter performance he showed in the first half of the season."
Marotta also said Inter had to be patient with Christian Eriksen's performance. Since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur in January, he's been working hard to be consistent.
Eriksen has scored three goals in all competitions and provided two assists in Serie A. Inter currently sit third in the standings - four points behind second-placed Lazio and only one point from Atalanta with eight games remaining.
"Eriksen is a great player and he can certainly give more. We have to be patient with him,"
CEO of Inter Milan, CEO of Inter Marotta
"There are eight games left and 24 points up for grabs. We have suffered 4 defeats, so much for what Inter represent but not much in the context of our project."
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