Why Lautaro Martinez 'spent two days crying' as Inter's Champions League semi-final hero vs Barcelona reveals he had his whole family worried & his mum frantically calling him

Martinez strained his thigh during the first half of Inter's 3-3 draw with Barcelona at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys and had to be substituted during the break. He missed out on several training sessions in the days after, before making a surprise return to team activities on Monday and ultimately earning a start for the second leg of the semi-final tie at San Siro. Now he's opened up about the mental toll of the injury and the worry it caused his family.

Martinez's rapid recovery in time for the second leg was labelled a 'miracle', and he proved crucial in helping defeat Hansi Flick's Barca side and secure passage into a second Champions League final in three years for Inter, scoring the opener and winning a penalty that put the Milan club two goals up at half time. Inter eventually won the game 4-3 after extra-time to win the tie 7-6 on aggregate.

Martinez told Sky Sports: “I was struggling a bit—I couldn’t even lift my leg. I spent the first two days after the injury in Barcelona crying at home. I did double training sessions all week and tried to recover. A tight bandage and straight onto the field. That’s just how I am. In games like this, you have to be there. I cried with my wife and kids at home, but I promised them I'd play. Even my mom was worried - she called me all morning, but I didn't answer because she suffers so much."

Martinez will now be desperate to prepare himself physically for a historic Champions League final against either Arsenal or PSG. The 2023-24 Serie A top scorer and title winner suffered a devastating defeat in the 2023 final versus Man City, and he'll be doing everything he can to avoid the same fate this year.