Icardi signs for PSG

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have signed Argentina international Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan on a four-year deal after taking up the option to buy the on-loan forward, the two clubs announced on Sunday.

Icardi joined PSG this season and scored 20 goals in 31 games, before the Ligue 1 campaign was stopped and his club crowned champions because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Paris Saint-Germain are delighted to announce the signing of Mauro Icardi on a permanent deal, after the striker’s loan from Inter Milan during the 2019/2020 season,” the French club said in a statement.

Icardi, who has eight caps for Argentina, but also holds an Italian passport, has signed a fouryear deal until June 30 2024.

Given the current economic situation, the French champions succeeded in reducing the fee “to under” €60m, as opposed to the €70m initially requested, according to the French and Italian sports media.

This is the first big transfer in Europe since the crisis linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 27year-old Icardi’s recruitment could signal the departure of Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, 33, the top scorer in the history of the club, whose contract expires on June 30.

Icardi’s debut season may not have finished yet with the Champions League still to be concluded, perhaps in August.

Inter Milan thanked Icardi “for the six seasons he spent with us and wish him the best for his future professional career”. The 27-year-old joined Inter from Sampdoria in 2013 and scored 124 goals.