Veteran Striker Tried to Engineer Inter Reunion

Mauro Icardi is still a free agent after wrapping up his four-year run at Galatasaray, and his priority was to return to Inter during the summer. Other sides tested the waters, like Lazio, Parma, and even Juventus, but he hasn’t latched onto a new one yet.

According to Fabrizio Biasin (via Tribuna), the marksman pushed to go back to his former team and would have settled with being a deep option behind Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Francesco Pio Esposito, and Ange-Yoan Bonny.

Icardi had a fairly successful spell at Inter between 2013 and 2019, but it ended on a sour note also because of off-the-pitch issues. The Argentine did what he could to set up his comeback and would have been content with a very small salary. However, the management believed they were set at the position.

As for other Nerazzurri forwards, the recent renewal hasn’t scared off Esposito’s suitors, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs. Arsenal sent scouts to observe him during the recent Italy matches. Given his growth and contract, all signs point to a long-term stay. He’ll try to unseat Thuram as Martinez’s go-to second fiddle. Teams that covet him would have to prepare a check north of €100M just to start the conversation.

Our Take on Inter, Icardi, and Esposito

It’s strange that the former is still without a team, as he was still rather productive last season, and his demands don’t figure to be excessive. The Nerazzurri likely thought he was too cumbersome for the role he’d have. It’ll be hard for him to find a side if that’s the caliber he’s eyeing, but he should have plenty of opportunities from smaller ones. Instead, the starlet isn’t going anywhere for years.