Icardi: No Inter renewal, wants to join Real Madrid over Juventus
AS understands Mauro Icardi has decided he won't be renewing his Inter Milan contract, and wants a move to a Champions League contender.
Mauro Icardi's Inter Milan career is in its final months. AS understands that the striker will ignore the Serie A club's attempts to tie him down to a new contract (his current deal expires in 2021), and will seek a summer switch to a side capable of challenging for the Champions League.
Juventus, Napoli and Manchester United all eyeing Icardi
Icardi's dream move would be to Real Madrid. However, he is not among their priority targets, and having tracked the Argentina international for some time, Juventus are shaping up as a more likely destination. He is also interesting Napoli, who are ready to hand him a huge weekly wage, and Manchester United, who could even seek a swap deal involving Belgium centre-forward Romelu Lukaku.
Icardi's so far six-year spell at Inter began to sour in January, as talks over a contract renewal stalled. With sources close to the negotiations revealing that the Nerazzurri's desire to increase his release clause to 220 million euros was proving problematic, Icardi's wife and agent, Wanda Nara, promptly informed the club's board that he was minded to move on.
Amid regular subsequent leaks to the media on both sides, the player was then summarily stripped of the captaincy in February - and, unhappy with the way he felt the club he loves was dealing with him, he told Inter chiefs that he would only continue extension talks if the Italians sought to rehabilitate his standing at the San Siro. According to someone close to the player, it was about feelings, not money.
Icardi could leave Inter Milan for as little 60m euros...
Having at one point gone as far as removing him from the first-team fold, Inter's hardline approach to the Icardi issue has in fact aided the striker's prospects of getting the move he wants: after all, their actions have served to reduce the market value of a player who wants out. Indeed, the 26-year-old's camp believe he could end up going for a knockdown 60 million euros.
Icardi is among a number of potential targets on Madrid's radar, but though he is highly rated at the Bernabéu, Los Blancos are not currently planning to make a move. It would be a dream come true for him true to pull on the white shirt, but if Madrid don't come in for him, he could well end up at long-term admirers Juve...