Inter's Lautaro Martinez Out for Weeks, Milan Derby in Doubt

Inter's Week Goes From Bad to Worse

Inter's miserable week has taken another turn for the worse, with captain Lautaro Martinez facing several weeks out with a hamstring problem. The Argentine striker was hurt in Tuesday's 4-3 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge, despite scoring twice, and underwent tests on Thursday morning.

According to Calciomercato.com, injuries of this kind rarely take less than two weeks to heal and often keep players out for three or more. That means the Argentine could be sidelined until after the November international break.

Inter confirmed the extent of the problem with an official statement: "Lautaro Martinez underwent clinical and instrumental tests today at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano. The tests revealed a muscle strain in the hamstrings of his left thigh."

The striker will certainly miss Saturday's trip to Bologna and Wednesday's Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk. Fiorentina, Venezia and the derby against Milan on 31 October follow, with Feyenoord and Como to come before the break.

Inter will do everything they can to have him back for the derby, but there is little optimism. LaPresse reports the trip to Atalanta on 22 November as a more realistic target. In his absence, Marcus Thuram, Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny are the options available to the coaching staff.

The timing could hardly be worse for Inter, who are already processing a chaotic European night in which they conceded four goals at home. Losing their captain and leading scorer for a stretch that includes the city derby adds another layer of difficulty to an already demanding October schedule. For a full look at how the Serie A picture is shaping up, see our Serie A predictions.

Lazio's Gudmundsson Out Until November

Lazio have their own injury concerns to manage, with Albert Gudmundsson set to miss more time than initially expected. According to Corriere dello Sport, Gennaro Gattuso had hoped to have the Icelandic forward back sooner, but the injury proved worse than first thought.

Gudmundsson hurt his left arm in a fall on international duty, and the damage proved more serious than first believed. He is still wearing a brace, the pain has not eased, and barring surprises he will miss every game in October and the first in November — a return that would only come after the November international break.

There is better news elsewhere in the squad. Matteo Cancellieri is back for Sunday's clash with Juventus but will start on the bench, while Gustav Isaksen, who scored on his return to the starting XI against Monza, should keep his place.

Nicolò Rovella has battled injuries for a year, while Adam Marusic has been out since late August with a strain and suffered a setback when trying to step up his recovery. Both will aim to be ready for Parma, as the Juventus game comes too soon.

Danilo Cataldi, meanwhile, has been on the bench for several games after a difficult summer and is waiting for minutes. Gattuso addressed the midfielder's situation on Sunday: "Cataldi is already with us, he's recovered and I make my choices. I want them all available. When everyone is back, we'll see. With five substitutions, football has changed, and players shouldn't sulk. They should watch carefully from the bench what the opponents are doing."

A fuller squad would let Gattuso rotate and close the gap between Lazio's first-half and second-half performances, a theme the coach has clearly identified as a priority. Until then, the Biancocelesti must navigate a demanding run with a reduced hand.

Manchester United: Martinez Future Uncertain

Away from Italy, Lisandro Martinez's future at Manchester United is uncertain following his criticism of the club's hierarchy, with doubts the 28-year-old's contract will be extended beyond its current expiry next summer, according to Sky Sports. While this is a contractual rather than fitness matter, it adds to the sense of instability around the defender's situation at Old Trafford.

On the recruitment front, Manchester United and Arsenal are keeping a close eye on Newcastle United's Ivory Coast attacker Bazoumana Toure, despite the 20-year-old only having moved to St James' Park this summer, per CaughtOffside. Getafe, meanwhile, are interested in signing England winger Jadon Sancho on a free transfer and are looking at ways they can meet the 26-year-old's salary demands, according to DAZN via Mundo Deportivo.

With so many squads juggling fitness concerns and availability questions, the coming weeks could prove decisive across Europe's top leagues. For a broader view of the fixtures ahead, check our today's AI betting tips and the latest football news.