Paris Saint-Germain have finally completed the signing of Mauro Icardi from Inter for a reported €58m making this the biggest transfer in football since the coronavirus outbreak.
“FC Internazionale Milano announces the transfer of Mauro Icardi to Paris Saint-Germain FC: the striker, born in 1993, has permanently moved to the French club,” read a statement.
“The Club thanks the player for the six seasons he spent with us and wishes him the best for his future professional career.”
Icardi had been a huge success at Inter where he had scored 124 goals in 219 starts, but the incredibly short statement from the club reflected just how badly the relationship had deteriorated.
Multiple Italian sources including Sky Sport Italia state PSG have paid an initial €50m for Icardi, with €8m to follow in the way of bonuses.
French reports, on the other hand, round down the figure for bonuses to €5m.
Sky Sport Italia also reports the inclusion of a clause that obliges the French giants to pay Inter an extra €15m if they sell him on to an Italian club.
“Paris Saint-Germain are delighted to announce the signing of Mauro Icardi on a permanent deal, following the striker’s loan from Inter Milan during the 2019-2020 season,” read the French side’s statement.
“The 27-year-old Argentina international (8 caps), who also holds an Italian passport, has signed a four-year deal with the capital club until 30 June 2024.
“The Rosario-born player is the 16th Argentinian player in the history of Paris Saint-Germain, and has made 31 appearances for the Rouge et Bleu in the 2019-2020 season, picking up a Ligue 1 winner’s medal, scoring 20 goals and providing 4 assists.”
The 27-year-old joined Inter from Sampdoria in the summer of 2013 for €13m and went on to score 124 goals in 219 games for the Nerazzurri.
However, he failed to win any silverware on the blue half of San Siro and his relationship with the Beneamata broke down irrevocably in February 2019, when he was stripped of their captaincy.
The Argentine subsequently embarked on a self-imposed exile and, despite returning for the final nine games of Inter’s 2018-19 season, was frozen out by Antonio Conte.
‘Maurito’ moved to PSG at the end of the summer transfer window last year and netted 20 times in 31 games, winning the Ligue 1 title after the French campaign was ended early.
PSG had an €70m option to buy but were able to negotiate a reduced fee in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
