It’s been a tumultuous ride for Mauro Icardi and Inter Milan over the last few months, and there doesn’t seem to be an end to the drama in sight for the controversial striker.
Amid a dispute with management, Icardi has now come under fire from the Inter ‘ultras.’
In a statement following Inter’s 1-1 draw with Roma on Sunday (via Calcio Mercato) the hardcore fans had some choice words for the Argentine.
Not even calling him by his name, instead referring to him as ‘that little man,’ and ‘the No 9,’ the statement says that he has shown no respect, and insinuates he should leave the club.
‘That little man who wears the No 9 does not deserve Inter, because he has not shown even the minimum of professional correctness that any “employee of a company” should demonstrate expressing respect for the shirt, for the public that believes in it or at least for the company he works for.’
Icardi was stripped of the Inter Milan captaincy earlier this year as he held out over his contract renewal. He then claimed he was unfit to play for the team, despite doctors clearing him for action.
The striker has been the club’s leading goalscorer for the last four seasons, but it seems now the team’s hardcore fans have had enough of him.
After spending six weeks on the sidelines, Icardi has returned to the fold in April. He came on during the second half against Roma, with Inter equalising shortly after his introduction.
‘It is our certainty that the No 9 cannot be a figure on which to build a group that can constitute the future we all hope for,’ the statement continued. ‘A future that in our opinion cannot and must never pass through victory at all costs but through a team and a company that shows respect for the colors they represent and always gives everything for Inter, we ask for nothing else.
‘We can say if in other European league what is happening on our stands could happen but the question we ask ourselves is: “have you ever seen players in other championships pretend to be injured, refuse to play, grin before their team’s defeats and leave the group for months then imposing their return through lawyers?”‘
Even Icardi’s own team-mates have been berating him. Radja Nainggolan admits he has told Icardi how he feels in the dressing room, saying:
‘If he had problems that he needed to resolve with someone, the whole group could not be made to pay for it with his absence.’
Icardi has of course been linked with moves to other teams. Most recently there have been claims of a sensational swap deal between Juventus and Inter for Icardi and Paulo Dybala.
