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Reports in Italy claim that the Blues are keen to bring in Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi.
Name: Mauro Emanuel Icardi Rivero
Date of birth: 19 February, 1993
Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina
Position: Striker
Club: Inter
International appearances: One Argentina cap (to date – 17 June 2014)
What’s the latest?
Icardi scored nine goals in his debut season with Inter last year, including strikes against tough sides like Juventus and Fiorentina. Gazzetta dello Sport say that Inter aren’t keen to sell the forward, but could perhaps be convinced if Chelsea offer both money and Romelu Lukaku.
Did you know?
1) Icardi was born in Rosario, a hotbed of Argentinean football, but moved to Gran Canaria when he was nine years old. He joined local side Vecindario on the island, and local legend says he scored over 500 goals as a youth player.
2) In 2008 Barcelona brought the youngster into their academy, but after only two years they sent him out to Sampdoria on loan. He went on to score regularly for the Italian side’s Primavera (reserve) team, putting away 19 goals in his first full season with them, and was promoted to the seniors in the summer of 2012.
3) Icardi’s first taste of Serie A football was a good one. In his debut season with the Sampdoria senior side, he scored ten goals, including three against Juventus, four against Pescara and one against Roma.
4) Inter paid €13m to sign the Argentine last summer, handing him their number nine shirt, and he quickly won over the San Siro faithful. Notably, he found the back of the net against Juventus once more last season, ensuring he has scored in every game he has started against the Old Lady.
5) Alejandro Sabella watched Icardi on several occasions over the course of 2013, and as a consequence handed him his senior Argentina debut against Uruguay in October of that year.
They say
“Many teams like Lukaku, but Mou would be happy to see him with ‘his’ Inter, especially if it meant the arrival of Icardi. If Chelsea put €8-10m on the table, a deal could move forward.” Gazzetta dello Sport on Chelsea’s interest in Icardi.
Video evidence
