Icardi is returning! Transfer chances grow stronger

Mauro Icardi, who left Galatasaray and has not yet agreed terms with a club, is reported to want to return to Italy. Juventus are said to be the strongest option for the Argentine striker in January, while a move back to Inter is also reportedly kept open and he is said to be ready to accept a lower salary.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Icardi has been trying to return to Inter since the start of last summer's transfer window. The striker reportedly told Inter's management that he could accept a role as a backup striker and that he was ready to take a significant pay cut. However, Inter President Giuseppe Marotta, speaking to Sky Sport before the Feyenoord match, said he had no information that Icardi had been offered to them, or at least that no such offer had arrived. Marotta also stated that Icardi is not part of their plans and that signing a new striker is not on their agenda.

After the negative response from Inter, the Juventus option came to the fore. It has been claimed that head coach Luciano Spalletti knows Icardi well from their time working together at Inter and is unhappy with the reinforcements made to the attack, and that he is open to signing a new striker in January. It was also stated that part of the 250 million euro capital increase approved by the club could be used for transfers.

It was recalled that Icardi was linked with Juventus earlier this year as well, and that he was ready to accept a Torino offer, but the deal did not go through at the final stage. It was also noted that during the same period he came very close to Lazio, but that move also fell through due to the negative stance of head coach Gennaro Gattuso. The 33-year-old bid farewell to Galatasaray on 1 July. Wearing the yellow and red jersey, Icardi made 134 appearances, scoring 77 goals and providing 25 assists. He won four league titles, one Turkish Cup and one Super Cup with Galatasaray, and was named Player of the Year in 2023.