In a development that has rocked the Italian football world, Paulo Dybala has sent a staggering message to Argentina teammate and Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez — a message that many fans and pundits are now calling “as explosive as it is revealing.” The Roma forward took to Instagram on Tuesday night to issue what appeared to be a deeply personal — and subtly critical — statement directed at Lautaro, following controversial comments made by the Inter striker during a high-profile interview earlier in the week.
“Some people forget too easily. Remember who stood by you when nobody else did.”
The post was brief, indirect, and devoid of any tags or names. But its timing, tone, and context left little to the imagination. It was a clear shot at Lautaro, and insiders have confirmed that it was in direct response to the Inter striker’s now-viral remarks during a sit-down interview with Sky Sport Italia.
🎙️ Lautaro’s Interview: The Spark That Lit the Fire
Earlier this week, Lautaro Martínez gave a wide-ranging interview to Sky Sport Italia, during which he was asked about Argentina’s Copa América preparations, his ambitions with Inter Milan, and his relationships with key players in the national team.
When asked about his strongest football connections at both club and international level, Lautaro singled out Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María, praising them as “legends who always knew what winning meant.” However, it was his next statement that raised eyebrows:
“In tough moments, I’ve learned who I can count on. And sometimes it’s not the people you think are closest to you.”
While Lautaro didn’t name any names, many within the football community — and especially in Argentina — interpreted the remark as a dig at Paulo Dybala, whose relationship with Lautaro has cooled in recent years. The two forwards were once viewed as the future of Argentina’s attack, but while Lautaro has surged to become a mainstay and captain at Inter, Dybala’s career has been marked by inconsistency, injury setbacks, and what some believe is a long-standing rift with certain teammates.
⚡ Dybala Responds: “Remember Who Stood by You”
Just a day after Lautaro’s interview aired, Dybala posted a cryptic Instagram story that quickly sent the football world into a frenzy. The post read:
“Some people forget too easily. Remember who stood by you when nobody else did.”
The background? A muted black-and-white photo of the Argentina squad from 2021, during the Copa América celebrations in Brazil — a tournament that Dybala was not officially part of due to injury but had attended in a support capacity, spending time with the squad behind the scenes.
Dybala has always been known for his reserved demeanor, rarely engaging in off-field drama. Which made this message all the more stunning.
🧠 The Roots of the Rift
While the public relationship between Lautaro and Dybala has always seemed cordial on the surface, those close to the Argentina national team suggest that tensions have existed for years — dating back to their competition for the same position under Lionel Scaloni.
In 2019 and 2020, Dybala was considered the natural successor to Messi, with many tipping him as Argentina’s new creative talisman. But injuries, tactical misfits, and the rise of Lautaro Martínez — who quickly formed an effective partnership with Messi — saw Dybala gradually pushed to the fringes of the national team.
“There was always mutual respect, but not much warmth,” said a former Argentina staff member. “Lautaro was seen as the emerging striker. Dybala was the outsider who never quite fit in.”
The dynamic reportedly grew more strained in the buildup to the 2022 World Cup, where both players were part of the victorious squad. While Lautaro featured heavily in the group stage, Dybala was used sparingly, famously coming on as a late substitute in the final against France — a role he fulfilled with class, but which some say left him bitter behind the scenes.
🇦🇷 Argentina’s Camp Divided?
Multiple Argentine outlets have reported that the national team locker room has quietly divided into “cliques,” with Lautaro Martínez and a few younger players forming one camp, and veterans like Dybala gravitating towards others.
A source close to the AFA told TyC Sports:
“It’s not open hostility, but there is tension. Dybala is admired for his loyalty and humility. Lautaro, now a leader, is seen by some as overly self-assured. There’s no war, but there’s definitely frost.”
Scaloni, for his part, has tried to keep harmony in the squad. He’s frequently praised both players in press conferences and reportedly urged them to settle their differences ahead of the Copa América earlier this year.
However, the latest exchange has reopened old wounds.
⚽ Club Implications: Roma and Inter Now Involved?
Though this drama stems from the international scene, its ripple effects are being felt at the club level as well. Roma supporters have come out in full support of Dybala, with many praising his loyalty and subtle dignity.
@ASRomaSpirit: “Paulo doesn’t speak often. When he does, it’s because something really hurt him.”
@DajeMagica: “No matter what anyone says, he never turns on teammates — unless he’s been disrespected first.”
Meanwhile, Inter Milan fans have shown mixed reactions. While many continue to back Lautaro Martínez, especially following his captaincy and goal-scoring heroics last season, others have grown concerned about his increasingly blunt public comments — especially after a recent dispute with Hakan Çalhanoğlu surfaced live on video.
@CurvaNordVoice: “First Hakan, now Dybala. Maybe Lautaro needs to look in the mirror.”
🧩 What Comes Next?
This latest flashpoint raises important questions:
- Will Scaloni intervene to bring his stars back into alignment before Argentina’s next call-up?
- Could this feud affect Argentina’s Copa América squad chemistry?
- Will either player speak publicly to clarify or de-escalate the situation?
Sources close to Dybala have said he does not intend to delete the post and is standing by his message. Lautaro, meanwhile, has not commented — though reports indicate he was “not surprised” by the reaction, suggesting that their off-field dynamic may be even more fractured than fans realized.
📌 Final Thoughts
Football feuds are nothing new. From Ibrahimović vs. Guardiola to Ramos vs. Piqué, the sport has always contained hidden tensions that occasionally burst into the public eye. But the quiet war brewing between Paulo Dybala and Lautaro Martínez is different — more emotional, more personal, and perhaps more painful, because of the shared history between the two players.
They were once billed as Argentina’s future. Now, they stand divided.
Whether time can heal these wounds remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Paulo Dybala’s five-word message has reignited a narrative many thought had been buried.
And nobody — not fans, not media, not even the players themselves — saw it coming.
