Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi departs Inter after having outscored everyone else during his time in Serie A.
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini pointed out in his autobiography that the Bianconeri were ‘lucky’ that the Argentine hitman didn’t remain Nerazzurro for another 15 years.
Icardi left Inter after he was stripped of their captaincy last season and told he would never play for the club again.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi departs Inter after having outscored everyone else during his time in Serie A.
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini pointed out in his autobiography that the Bianconeri were ‘lucky’ that the Argentine hitman didn’t remain Nerazzurro for another 15 years.
Icardi left Inter after he was stripped of their captaincy last season and told he would never play for the club again.
Romelu Lukaku was signed to replace him and took his shirt number at the Giuseppe Meazza. The 26-year-old, who had also been linked with Juve and Napoli, formally completed his loan move to PSG in September 2019.
Despite his controversial ending with Inter, Icardi extended his contract until June 2022 before he travelled to France to ensure the Beneamata wouldn’t lose their former captain on a free transfer in the event PSG declined a permanent transfer.
Fortunately for both sides, he continued where he left off, scoring 20 goals in 31 games for the Ligue 1 giants, winning the French title and bringing the focus back on his football.
Icardi arrived in Italy via Sampdoria, joining from Barcelona initially on loan. He played for their youth team in 2011-12 and netted 19 times in 23 games at Primavera level.
He then stepped up when the Blucerchiati returned to Serie A and scored 10 goals in 31 games during his first season in the top tier. He convinced Inter to shell out €13m the following summer and his value skyrocketed at San Siro.
Icardi left Inter after having scored 124 goals in 219 games for them and after having bagged 121 Serie A goals across the seven seasons he spent in the top flight – more than any other player between 2012-13 to 2018-19.
Most goals in Serie A between 2012-13 to 2018-19:
121 – Mauro Icardi (Sampdoria and Inter)
117 – Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli, Juventus and Milan)
99 – Ciro Immobile (Genoa, Juventus, Torino, Lazio)
88 – Fabio Quagliarella (Juventus, Napoli, Torino, Sampdoria)
84 – Dries Mertens (Napoli)