Icardi looks to shine on big stage
milan — Argentina striker Mauro Icardi is the golden boy of Italian football as much for his goalscoring prowess with Inter Milan as his colourful lifestyle off the pitch. The heavily tattooed 25-year-old from Rosario — also the hometown of Lionel Messi — followed the same route as his illustrious countryman to Barcelona in 2008.
He moved to Italy in 2011 to Genoa club Sampdoria before arriving at Inter Milan five years ago, taking over as captain in 2015. His ability to quickly put himself in a striking position and his accuracy in front of goal in a championship renowned for its tight defending have garnered 118 goals for the club.
Icardi was joint top scorer in Serie A last season with 29 league goals.
He was named Serie A Footballer of the Year last week, the first player not from Juventus to win since Zlatan Ibrahimovic with AC Milan in 2011.
The Argentine also won the best goal award for his spectacular backheel during a four-goal haul against Sampdoria last March. He gave each of his teammates a Rolex watch to thank them for helping him reach the mark for the second time in his career, saying “without you it would have not been possible” in a post on Instagram.
Icardi will play his 200th game for Inter on Tuesday when Inter take on PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in a crucial game for the club’s progress in the competition they returned to this season for the first time since 2011-12.
Icardi scored his third Champions League goal in Inter’s 2-1 home win over Tottenham, but the Italians lost away to the English side, with both level on seven points.
Inter will finish second and qualify for the knockout rounds if they pick up more points than Spurs manage away to group winners Barcelona.