Despite already signing Alvaro Morata over the summer and super-sub Michy Batshuayi, Chelsea keep getting linked with strikers, and not just affordable ones.
One of the latest on the list has been Inter’s Mauro Icardi, who currently has a release clause of €110m, a fee the Serie A club won’t want to negotiate such is the Argentinian’s importance to their plans.
Managed by his wife and agent, Wanda Nara, the former Sampdoria starlet has been in great form this season under Luciano Spalletti, scoring 15 goals in 14 league games so far, which has triggered the rumours to clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and the aforementioned Chelsea.
Giving an interview to Corriere dello Sport about her husband and client, the 30-year-old commented on the rumours sending Icardi to Stamford Bridge, or anywhere else, for that matter.
She said: “Mauro is an important player and these are top clubs that have followed him for some time. It’s not that a forward like him, one of the more important number nines in the world, has big team interested in him and value him for what he is. It must please both him and Inter.”
As for whether or not he will move in the near future, Wanda Nara kept her cards rather close to her chest.
She continued: “I’d rather not say who has phoned me. I’m the one who talks about these things, while Mauro thinks about Inter and is happy to be here. The board know he’s rejected clubs that other players wouldn’t have turned down because his heart belongs to Inter.
“I won’t deny, however, that there are a lot of teams interested in him. Far more than just the names circulating.”
Adding the usual ‘anything can happen in football’ line most agents use when talking about their client’s future, Nara and Icardi know full well that if an offer arrives matching his release clause, it’ll be down to them to decide what happens next.
Because of the direction the market is heading, Inter know €110m might not be enough to keep the richest clubs away, hence their desire to either increase or get rid of the release clause in his contract.
How much is Icardi worth, according to his wife/agent? “Minimum €200m”.
