Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez could be sidelined for up to a month after suffering a left hamstring injury, potentially ruling him out of the highly anticipated Milan derby on October 31.
The Serie A champions confirmed on Thursday that the 29-year-old Argentina international had undergone medical examinations, which revealed a strain in his left hamstring.
Inter have not provided an official recovery timeline, but Italian media reports suggest Martinez could remain unavailable until the next international break.
If those reports prove accurate, the striker will miss several important fixtures, including the derby against city rivals AC Milan on October 31.
Martinez's injury comes just days after an impressive individual performance in the Champions League. The Argentine scored twice on Tuesday, although his efforts were not enough to prevent Inter from suffering a dramatic 4-3 defeat to Club Brugge in the second round of the league phase.
The forward has also made a strong start to the domestic campaign, scoring four Serie A goals this season.
His potential absence represents a significant setback for Inter as they look to maintain their position at the top of the Italian league.
The reigning champions currently lead Serie A on goal difference ahead of second-placed Lazio, making Martinez's fitness a major concern ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
