The Inter Milan striker is thought to be at the top of many of the European giants’ Christmas wish-lists.
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Liverpool, Chelsea, Valencia, Bayern Munich and now Spurs are all said to be watching the Argentine striker who has eight goals already this season, putting him on par with some of the Premier League’s hottest strikers.
The Daily Mirror have put together five essential things Liverpool and Chelsea fans need to know about the Inter Milan forward.
Origins
Born in Rosario, the same hometown as other Argentina superstars Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi. He was spotted by Barcelona scouts at Gran Canaria club Vecindario where he scored over 500 youth goals. Although he had a choice between the Catalan club and Real Madrid, he signed for Barca in 2008.
Had a loan move to Sampdoria that eventually became permanent despite the club’s relegation. As a 19 year old made his first team debut for the Genovese club and secured their return to Serie A with his first professional goal.
The Scudetto
Following Sampdoria’s return to Serie A, Icardi managed 10 league goals before his 20th birthday.
Caught many a big team’s eye during his time at Samp, particularly with his partnership with compatriot Maxi Lopez. The two combined well to produce a deadly attacking front duo.
Inter
With such scorching form for Sampdoria, Inter agreed a fee in the region of £24 million for the forward and Icardi was touted as a future Argentina international.
However, with such an exorbitant amount of money spent on him, perhaps too much was expected too soon from the Argentine who struggled to justify his eye-watering transfer fee with just nine goals in 25 appearances last season.
Off field issues
Perhaps what can truly explain Icardi’s hit and miss form for Inter were the issues surrounding him outside of football.
Remember Maxi Lopez at Sampdoria? Not only were the two a deadly strike partnership, they were good friends. Well, until Icardi shacked up with Lopez’s ex-wife, Wanda Nara.
Following an acrimonious split which saw Nara revealing some pretty intimate details to Argentina tabloids, like living three months without sex(!), Icardi began tweeting his undying love for Lopez’s ex.
The two are now in a relationship with Icardi even having Nara and Lopez’s children tattooed on himself. Whilst Lopez has publicly denounced his wife for running off with his former best friend, he’s reportedly more upset that the two constantly publish pictures of his kids.
The Icardi of this season
With, fingers crossed, nothing untoward being revealed about the forward in the gossip columns so far this season, Icardi has become more settled at Inter and produced better performances.
Despite playing in one of the worst Inter sides in recent memory, who currently sit 11th in Serie A, he’s managed to acquire seven goals and one assist in 13 appearances.
He has better conversion rates than the likes of Tevez and Higuain and you’d think in a more open league with a more creative team he’d be able to score plenty more.
He would surely be a welcome addition to any of the interested Premier League parties.