Nobody Wants Mauro Icardi Anymore

This summer is rife with transfer rumors as soccer fans everywhere pay close attention to blogs, articles, and the news to hear about major signings for big clubs. There is a lot of fixation right now about which major superstars will be next season. We have already seen huge spending on Real Madrid's part for Eden Hazard of Chelsea, Luka Jovic of Frankfurt, Ferland Mendy of Lyon, and Rodrygo of Santos. While the Spanish superclubs (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid) and the English Top 6 (Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool) look to get strong in hope of contending for domestic trophies and continental glory, there seems to be more rumors going around about players making switches from other leagues. One of the biggest names that nobody is talking about anymore in Mauro Icardi of Inter Milan. The Argentine striker was once a highly-pursued player, but now he is undesirable by all clubs, including his current one. What happened?

Icardi is one of the less-known strikers in the world, particularly because he plays in the weaker Italian Serie A. Yet he plays for one of the most famous clubs in world...or rather he did play for them. 2019 is a contract year for Icardi, but Inter are not keen on resigning him. Nor is any other club that he was linked with such as Manchester United, Juventus, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. That was after last season when he posted a solid 29 goals in 34 appearances and led Inter to a third-place finish in Serie A. Suddenly, it all went to hell, causing Inter to despise Icardi and the people around him. His future is uncertain, and not just with Inter, but with all clubs. 

This season began Icardi's contract extension negotiations, but they were far from productive. Icardi's agent Wanda Nara is also his wife. If anyone knows anything about superstar soccer players, they carry big egos and often get what they want because of their skill. Not Icardi though. Wanda Nara was adamant about getting her husband the best deal possible, even though he already made makes 3.2 million Euros a year. Wanda wanted to Inter to empty the coffers for Icardi, but any club knows they can't do that especially when the striker hasn't helped them win any trophies since the dominance of Juventus in Italy for the last nine seasons. Inter felt Wanda was being unreasonable and being a bad influence on her husband, which caused him to lose favor with the Inter brass. This season, Icardi saw more bench time over fellow Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez, only posted 11 goals in 29 appearances, and to cap off a season from hell, was stripped of his captaincy following the growing rift between the player and the club. Inter finished fourth, but only one point above rivals AC Milan. All the Italian clubs are trying to bring popularity to Serie A back by making it more competitive. The club that dethrones Juventus will begin that wave. Inter was hopeful Icardi could help them, but they are nowhere closer to toppling the Italian superclub, especially now that Juve has Cristiano Ronaldo. Icardi's footballing days in Italy might be over now.

Though Icardi has expressed his desire to return to Inter, they don't want him back. They have begun searching for his replacement. Initially, it was reported Inter and Juventus were discussing a swap transfer deal, Paulo Dybala for Mauro Icardi; two Argentine forwards switching sides. Other reports suggested Manchester United would swap Romelu Lukaku for Icardi, but United have asked instead for Inter center-back Milan Skriniar for the Belgian striker. It seems that Icardi is in limbo right now: his current club don't want him and no other club seems to want to pay him after his poor season and whiny attitude fueled by his wife's demands. So what is going to happen to him?

Any club in need of a great poaching and playmaking striker would be poised to sign Icardi. Atletico Madrid comes to mind as they are searching for Antoine Griezmann's replacement following his decision to leave for Barcelona. However, Atletico have also been reported to have sign Benfica wonderkid Joao Felix. Chelsea would be a good landing spot for Icardi; he would be linked with his countryman Gonzalo Higuain, but they can't sign anyone with their current transfer ban. Liverpool could pay for Icardi, but that also require dropping current center-forward Roberto Firmino to the bench; not to mention, they pretty much play Mo Salah up front. It wouldn't be shocking if one of the Bundesliga clubs takes a shot for Icardi. Bayern Munich will be looking to add strength to keep their dominance over Germany, especially as current Polish striker Robert Lewandowski ages. Dortmund could add Icardi to the their new signings of Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard, but he will have to compete with Paco Alcacer for the starting striker spot. Maybe he can join Frankfurt as Luka Jovic's replacement. 

It is sad that Icardi has lost a lot of favor with clubs around Europe. He is a great striker with strong attacking and scoring abilities, but his personality is a real issue. He better stop whining for more money, or he will be out of a job come August.