Inter star Martinez to miss Argentina duty after positive COVID-19 test

Inter striker Lautaro Martinez will miss international duty with Argentina after testing positive for COVID-19.

Martinez was called up for Lionel Scaloni’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying fixtures against Venezuela and Ecuador.

But the 24-year-old will not feature after returning a positive test for coronavirus ahead of travelling to South America on Sunday.

Martinez will now serve a period of self-isolation in Italy and will hope to return to fitness for Inter’s crunch trip to Juventus on April 3 in Serie A.

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Lautaro Martinez è risultato positivo al Covid-19 https://t.co/W5S8kMpFjE

— Inter (@Inter) March 21, 2022

The Nerazzurri attacker has scored 14 times in 27 top-flight appearances this season, leading the club’s scoring charts after finding the net once every 123 minutes on average.

Martinez, though, has just three goals in his last 11 league games – all of those coming in a hat-trick against Salernitana on March 3.

Indeed, he has been on somewhat of a barren run since the end of December, but he did end a 490-day wait for a Champions League goal with his sumptuous strike against Liverpool earlier this month.

Martinez will be hoping he can rediscover his form when Inter travel to Juve as Simone Inzaghi’s side, who have played a game fewer, look to cut Serie A leaders Milan’s six-point advantage over them.