Following Inter Milan’s 2‑0 defeat to Fluminense in the Round of 16 at the Club World Cup, Lautaro Martínez, the team’s captain, didn’t hold back. He openly questioned the commitment of certain teammates and sent a clear message:

“If you don’t want to stay, then leave.”

Although he didn’t mention names, Italian media immediately pointed the finger at Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

Calling out the locker room

“The Bull” didn’t just criticize their performance on the pitch (“we weren’t in the game”), but also took aim at the attitude inside the dressing room. Calhanoglu, currently under scrutiny for his injury recovery and rumored move to Galatasaray, has become the focus of criticism for what many believe is a lack of commitment to the Nerazzurri cause.

Marotta backs Lautaro and confirms the target

Inter president Giuseppe Marotta supported Lautaro’s comments and confirmed who they were aimed at:

“When a player says he wants to leave, the door is open… this was directed at Calhanoglu.”

The club will hold talks with the midfielder in the coming days to determine his future. A clean break isn’t off the table, as his attitude has frustrated both teammates and club leadership alike.

A season of collapse and burnout

Inter entered the campaign with dreams of a treble, but the reality was brutal: no silverware in Serie A, the Champions League, Coppa Italia, or the Club World Cup. With Simone Inzaghi already off to Al Hilal and the locker room in disarray, the outlook for next season—both in Serie A and European competitions—looks far from promising for the Nerazzurri.