Mauro Icardi scores on return from two-month exile as Inter Milan thrash Genoa… but fans still want to sell Chelsea target
The Argentine was reportedly frozen out of the squad after a long-standing contract stand-off with the Serie A side
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MAURO ICARDI ended his Inter Milan exile with a goal in the thrashing of scored on Wednesday.
The Argentine seems to have ended his contract stand-off with the Serie A giants, although club fans still want the Chelsea transfer target to be sold.
Inter coach Luciano Spalletti revealed ahead of the game that Icardi would start against Genoa and the striker would be given a second chance at San Siro.
He said: "For us, he's a player to follow if he is one metre ahead. We're stronger with him now. Whoever says we're weaker are against us.
"The case is closed in all respects. Now he needs to train, sweat, smell the grass and not talk through other people."
And Icardi scored his tenth goal of the season as Inter hammered Genoa 4-0, converting a penalty after being fouled in the box minutes before half-time.
But Nerazzurri fans are not willing to forgive their former skipper, who who saw his captain armband taken away in the aftermath of his stand-off with the Serie A giants.
The Nord’s position is that Icardi is no longer part of Inter and, from now on, will be treated accordingly
Inter fan-group, the Curva Nord
The club's most ardent fan group - the Curva Nord - has released a statement titled "Onwards with Inter fans, Icardi get lost", calling for the Argentine to "be removed" from the squad.
It read: "After an internal meeting, all the Curva Nord groups unanimously decided that the behaviour of the Nerazzurri No.9 mustn’t be tolerated any longer.
"The Nord believes Icardi has shown that he doesn’t possess the necessary character, not just for the captain’s armband but also for a united dressing room.
"With this release, we invite Inter to take the necessary measures as soon as possible to remove him from a squad who don’t seem to have the slightest intention of sharing the immediate path with him and the future, also putting our end of the season at risk.
"For us, the value of the team must come before personalities and those who want the media limelight.
"Therefore, the Nord’s position is that Icardi is no longer part of Inter and, from now on, will be treated accordingly."
Icardi was reportedly estranged from his team-mates after refusing to sign a contract extension and then snubbing the Europa League tie against Rapid Vienna.
The heated contract negotiations were led by his controversial wife Wanda Nara, who publicly criticised Inter chiefs.
She was then blamed for his husband's "disaster" by both former Italy star Antonio Cassano and Icardi's sister
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After this, the Argentine's summer move to Manchester United, Chelsea or Real Madrid looked inevitable.
And when Icardi resumed training in March, Spalletti again left him out of the squad claiming "something new happened" between the player and the club.
The Inter gaffer then slammed the Argentine, accusing him of "humilitating" Inter.
But Icardi was back with a bang on Wednesday and could be Inter's key man.
