The time is upon us once again. Football doesn’t end when the last ball is kicked anymore, with transfer rumours kicking in when the window opens in July. Every summer is billed as the most exciting one yet, and this one is no different.
Strikers are at a premium these days and that is reflected from their price tags. The usual names are being thrown around, but finding value is as tough as ever. All the big clubs want a proven goalscorer, and unfortunately, there are more suitors than players. From a neutral point of view, it really could be a fun few months.
Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann is a wanted man, as is Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. In Italy, after impressing in Serie A, Turin is the centre of attention, with elite clubs reportedly queuing up for Juventus’ Paulo Dybala and Torino’s Andrea Belotti.
Another player who could become available, but for some reason does not get linked with clubs on a daily basis, is Inter’s Mauro Icardi. Here are five reasons he should be on top managers’ radars in the off-season:
#1 He’s a complete striker
Because football is ever-changing, different types of strikers become fashionable in different eras. Target men, agile players who run off the shoulder of the last defender and poachers have all had their time, with even the ‘false 9’, an attacking midfielder or winger masquerading as a deep attacker, enjoying a stint in the last few years.
Those who combine all the aforementioned attributes will always be in-demand, and Icardi is no different. Despite being six foot with an impressive physique, the Argentine can do more than just hold the ball up top and bring teammates into play. He is more effective when facing the goal, making runs to either connect with crosses from the likes of Ivan Perisic or a through ball from Joao Mario.
Icardi can play up front on his own, or with a partner. His ability to combine power and technique mean he can fit into any team, especially when you consider he began his career by coming through Barcelona’s fabled youth academy, La Masia, before moving to Italy with Sampdoria in 2011.
#2 He would suit the Premier League
This may seem like a similar reason, but his game would undoubtedly flourish even more with a move to England, particularly at Chelsea or Manchester United. Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool all prefer to play a system without a real focal point. Their strikers, namely Alexis Sanchez, Sergio Aguero or Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino, all have a low centre of gravity and tend to move around in a freer role.
But with both Chelsea and the Red Devils perspective buyers in attack this summer, they could do much worse than Icardi. Jose Mourinho is incredibly keen on signing Griezmann, but the Inter forward would offer more continuity after Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The 35-year-old Swede scored 28 goals this season, but a serious knee injury has put his future in doubt with his yearlong contract expiring in the summer. There is the option of a second year, but no word on that yet.
Antonio Conte could be in the market for a striker, too. Diego Costa was the subject of a huge offer from a Chinese club in January, and they could return in the summer, while the Spain striker has flirted with other clubs in interviews this season.
Costa’s 20 Premier League goals helped Conte to the title in his debut season, but it wouldn’t be too farfetched to suggest the Italian would actually sanction a deal to allow him to leave.
Icardi has scored 24 goals so far in the Serie A this season, with one game remaining, and last season he ended with 16 after ending the 2014/15 campaign level with then 38-year-old Luca Toni on 22. These stats, and his style, would suggest he would have no problem adjusting to the English game.
#3 His personality
Icardi’s similarities to Costa and Ibrahimovic do not stop simply with quality on the pitch, but in terms of personality too. Costa, for example, enjoys getting on the wrong side of opposition defenders with mind games and physical confrontation, while Ibrahimovic is known for his immense self-confidence.
The Inter man is something of a combination of the two, definitely not shy of confrontation. Certain managers, most notably Mourinho, are known to like a spark of personality in their players, with the Portuguese having worked with Ibrahimovic and Costa, as well as other controversial figures like Mario Balotelli and Samuel Eto’o in the past. There is definite sense in Mourinho signing Icardi for Manchester United, because he has the confidence to lead the line at such a historic club, even now, in the most precarious era in recent times.
It takes a certain type of player to captain Inter at such a young age, as Icardi has done since he was 22.
He has been embroiled in a number of issues throughout his career, most notably with former Barcelona midfielder Maxi Lopez, whom he played with at Sampdoria. The pair were good friends until Lopez’s ex-wife Wanda Nara left him to marry Icardi, whom she now lives and has two children with, as well as housing the three fathered by Lopez.
#4 Poor relationship with Inter fans
Another controversy involving Icardi occurred in October, when a feud began with Inter’s ultras. After signing a new five-year contract, he released an autobiography in which he recalled the reaction of some fans after a 3-1 defeat at Sassuolo two seasons ago. Despite captaining the Nerazzurri, he called one of the lead ultras a ‘b*****d’ and a ‘piece of ‘s**t’ for refusing to allow a young fan to accept his shirt and shorts.
So began public condemnation from the Nerazzurri supporters, who called for Icardi to be stripped of the captaincy and sold. Tensions have since died down, and the striker said last year, before the incident, that he sees his future at the San Siro.
“I will absolutely stay here. Do I want to become the new Javier Zanetti? Steady on, there are a lot of years. I am happy to be here and wear the armband.
“If I get to remain here for as many years as he did, then I’ll be even happier.”
Pretty damning, then, but the animosity between captain and fans offers hope for any potential suitors. Not to mention the uncertainty surrounding the club after coach Stefano Pioli’s sacking in recent weeks.
#5 His age
As has already been mentioned, Icardi has achieved so much despite being just 24 years old. He is a talismanic figure on the pitch, a great leader, and a player who gives Inter the hope that they can build around him and return to former glory soon.
Joining the club from Samp in 2013, Icardi is yet to prove himself in the Champions League and has his best years ahead of him. Like Torino’s Belotti, he represents something of a risk, but on balance, the ability for him to develop further at the highest level could be too good to refuse. Belotti is said to have an £80million buyout clause in his contract, and Icardi could represent a cheaper option.
