Sometimes a simple social media `like` carries significant weight. Inter is currently in Charlotte, preparing to leave their Uptown hotel, yet players` phones and social media remain highly active. After the entire club absorbed Hakan Calhanoglu`s message, which was posted in response to Lautaro Martinez`s post-match criticism, Marcus Thuram`s `like` suddenly appeared under the Turkish player`s post. This wasn`t just any player; Thuram is half of the `ThuLa` partnership and the Argentine`s attacking counterpart for the past two seasons.

The Frenchman had been struggling with physical discomfort towards the end of the season. He came off the bench against Monterrey in the World Cup debut but then missed the subsequent matches against Urawa and River Plate. After participating in two group training sessions in North Carolina, he started alongside Lautaro against Fluminense, but his performance was underwhelming.

Marcus was far from his best, appearing physically and mentally drained from a taxing season. He seemed somewhat listless in a match against Fluminense that demanded grit and recovery – the complete opposite of the “warrior” Lautaro, who pushed himself despite not being at full fitness either. Crucially, and in line with the deeply held Argentine footballing ethos, Lautaro dislikes teammates who don`t give their absolute maximum, especially in knockout games. Beyond the pitch and the defeat to Flu, however, a rift has clearly emerged in recent hours between the team captain and the Turkish midfield leader, who previously shared a good rapport. With a single click, Marcus publicly sided with Calhanoglu. Until contradicted, his `like` indicates his chosen allegiance. This is the modern way of communicating, and it adds considerable weight to Inter`s current unsettling situation, a club that has been experiencing turmoil for weeks.

In his pointed comments after the elimination (“Whoever wants to stay, stay, but whoever doesn`t want to, leave, goodbye…”), Lautaro did not name names, but Hakan Calhanoglu in Istanbul likely felt the message was directed at him. This impression was reinforced when President Beppe Marotta explicitly stated: “He didn`t say it, but I will: the comment was directed at Calhanoglu. But we shouldn`t place all the blame on Hakan; we will speak with him. Currently, there are no grounds for us to part ways, but if circumstances change, we will do so without problems.”

Calhanoglu`s sharp response arrived from Turkey some hours later: “I respect every opinion, even that of a teammate, even the president`s. But respect cannot be one-way. I have always shown it, on and off the pitch. I have never said I am unhappy at Inter. I love this club. And I love these colours, for which I have given everything every day. The future? We`ll see. But history will always remember those who stood firm, not those who shouted the loudest.” Below this message, among over 150,000 likes, was Marcus Thuram`s thumb, making the task of managing the Inter dressing room even more challenging for Cristian Chivu, the man tasked with healing the wounds and tensions from the end of the season. Other notable likes included Marko Arnautovic, Calhanoglu`s closest friend in the recent squad (who has since officially left Inter), and a particularly pointed one from Gaia Lucariello, Simone Inzaghi`s wife, perhaps enjoying a moment of playful provocation after her husband reached the World Cup quarter-finals.