Icardi the perfect striker, says coach
Argentina striker Mauro Icardi is the golden boy of Italian football as much for his goal-scoring prowess with Inter Milan as his colourful lifestyle off the pitch.
The heavily tattooed 25-yearold from Rosario – also the hometown of Lionel Messi – followed the same route as his illustrious countryman to Barcelona in 2008.
He moved to Sampdoria in 2011 before arriving in 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 116 goals for the club.
Luciano Spalletti, who took charge of Inter a year-and-a-half ago, said: “He has no weakness, he is perfect.
“Icardi is a complete striker and for his age shoulders so much responsibility.”
Icardi was joint top scorer in Serie A last season with his 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.
Inter take on PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday 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 first Champions League goal in a 2-1 home win over Tottenham, but the Italian club 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.
And he has been overshadowed by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus with the Portuguese superstar having scored 10 league goals to Icardi’s eight. Neither shone in Friday’s Derby d’Italia with Mario Mandzukic scoring the winner, as Icardi failed to record a single shot on goal during the match.
The player’s contract reportedly has a €100 million buy-out clause, exactly the amount which Juventus paid Real Madrid for five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo.
He scored his first goal in his eighth game for his country, a friendly win over Mexico, last month. –