Inter Milan director Zanetti says Icardi has ‘no future’ at club but thinks Chelsea transfer target Martinez will stay
INTER MILAN director Javier Zanetti says Mauro Icardi has ‘no future’ at the club but thinks Chelsea transfer target Lautaro Martinez will stay. Martinez is one of the hottest properties in Europe right now with The Blues, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid all big fans of the Argentina striker. Martinez, 22 , arrived at […]
INTER MILAN director Javier Zanetti says Mauro Icardi has ‘no future’ at the club but thinks Chelsea transfer target Lautaro Martinez will stay.
Martinez is one of the hottest properties in Europe right now with The Blues, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid all big fans of the Argentina striker.
Martinez, 22 , arrived at San Siro from Argentine outfit Racing Club, in 2018 and has three years left on his contract.
The Inter ace has scored 16 goals this season after forming a lethal partnership with Romelu Lukaku.
He has a £97.5million buy-out clause and Man City are reportedly leading a four-way battle with the Blues, Barca and Real Madrid to sign the striker.
Inter’s hopes of getting him to agree a new deal were hit by the coronavirus pandemic but the club’s vice-president Zanetti remains confident of keeping his golden boy in Serie A.
He told ESPN: “At Inter I see him happy, he identifies with the club.
“We believed in him. I see his future at Inter.”
But the future of Martinez’s Argentina teammate, Icardi, is less certain.
The 27-year-old has been in blistering form since moving to PSG from Inter on a season-long loan.
The striker, who fell out with Inter boss Antonio Conte, has scored 17 goals in 26 appearances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League this season.
But there were reports he had his contract in the French capital terminated after comments made by his wife and agent Wanda Nara. Those claims have not been confirmed but it is clear there is unrest.
And Zanetti doesn’t think the Argentine has a future at San Siro when he returns.
He said: “I don’t know, I don’t think so.
“But right now we’re not talking about the transfer market, the most important thing is health. Then we’ll have time to think about it.”
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AC Milan are reportedly interested in signing the Argentine striker from their rivals but the asking price of £88million could put them off a potential move.
Serie A rivals Juventus are also eyeing a move for Icardi, with Corriere dello Sport claiming the Italian league leaders are uniquely placed in being able to afford Icardi and offer him a guaranteed chance at winning titles season after season.
While City boss Pep Guardiola sees Martinez as the long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero and former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo hailed Martinez as Aguero’s successor.