Former Serie A winner Antonio Di Gennaro has said that Inter Milan can’t afford to lose the services of Mauro Icardi in the near future unless they are able to recruit a replacement with the same level of pedigree. The Nerazzurri captain currently has more than two years remaining on his existing deal but his future has still come under scrutiny with the tempting £96m release clause inserted into his contract.
Speaking to RMC Sport, Di Gennaro suggested that the Nerazzurri would find it difficult to replace Icardi, given players of the same capacity would command significant wages. He added that the San Siro outfit should seek to commit the Argentine to a long-term deal with the economic demands of the striker being within the affordable range.
He told: “If you want to replace someone like him then Inter would need a player of the same level who would have a very big salary. I think that a club that is planning very well like Inter cannot lose someone like Icardi. Inter has it in their mind to keep Icardi and I think there is not so much of a gap on the economic level. If everyone has the same will and agreement can be found.”
Icardi’s release clause has certainly kept the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid interested over the past few months and this has increased the urgency from Inter’s end to resolve the marksman’s future. Still, they have not been able to find the breakthrough with the player’s wife and agent and the next few months could give an indication over the progress made. Icardi has not enjoyed the same vein of form as the previous campaign but he has nonetheless contributed nine goals in the Serie A including a few late winners. The striker’s consistency has also caught the eye of Argentina of late with manager Lionel Scaloni regularly calling him upfor international friendlies.