Inter decelerate Icardi talks as 'Plan B' emerges for Marotta
Inter Milan sporting director 'Beppe' Marotta has decided to extend the deadline to complete talks with Icardi, for whom he now has a possible 'Plan B' should those talks fail.
Contract renewal talks surrounding Mauro Icardi and Inter Milan have created much publicized tension between the club and the player’s agent and wife, Wanda Nara.
Just when it seemed that negotiations between Nara and Inter sports director ‘Beppe’ Marotta had reached a heated breaking point, both parties have moved to defuse the situation.
"My phone is on and I answer everyone. They make me look bad but I'm not. Icardi has total availability to continue his career at Inter. For me it will be 100-percent renewal, but I cannot read the future,” Nara told AS’ sister outlet Tiki Taka a couple of weeks ago.
Now it appears that Inter have taken control of negotiaions, as Marotta has decided to extend the deadline to complete talks, in the belief that there is currently no club willing to come in and pay his 110-million-euro buyout clause.
According to Italian daily Il Giornale this Saturday, the Inter director has now given a margin of two months to close a deal with the Argentine striker, whose current contract ends in June 2021. Icardi’s recent numbers in Serie A have not compelled Inter to accelerate an agreement either, as the centre forward has been without a goal since mid-December.
Plan B: Paulo Dybala
Furthermore, Marotta now has a possible ‘Plan B’ should Icardi talks fail: his compatriot, Juventus striker Paulo Dybala. Dybala has been not enjoying his best moments at Juventus and recently had a fall out Massimiliano Allegri over his decision not to play him in their most recent game against Parma.
The Argentinian international could be tempted by a call from Marotta, with whom he had a great relationship while the latter was CEO at Juve.
Whatever happens, Real Madrid will remain attentive to the situations of Icardi and Dybala, both of whom are seen as attractive propositions for the Bernabéu board.
