HomeFootballPSG Transfers: Why signing Mauro Icardi permanently is smart...

PSG Transfers: Why signing Mauro Icardi permanently is smart business

- Advertisement -

Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan have reportedly reached an agreement over the permanent transfer of Mauro Icardi.

The Argentine striker had joined PSG on loan ahead of this season, and the Ligue 1 champions have seen enough to make his move permanent for a fee in the region of €50 million, plus €7m in add-ons. 

- Advertisement -

This comes after Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio hinted on Friday that they were eager to offload Icardi permanently.

“Mauro Icardi wants to stay at PSG and we are in talks to make that happen.”

Piero Ausilio

The 27-year-old has played 31 times this season, finding the back of the net on 20 occasions, whilst also providing four assists. Initially, PSG had negotiated a clause to sign Icardi for €70 million, but the coronavirus crisis has taken a big toll on the clubs’ finances and hence, a lower fee was agreed. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAyQCkCJXJ4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Icardi is a player of immense calibre, and the Parisians did well to rope in a striker of his potential for the aforementioned fee. 

With that said, now that the Ligue 1 champions have signed Mauro Icardi permanently, here’s why it could prove to be a shrewd piece of business for PSG:

Mauro Icardi: Player Profile

After beginning his youth career at a small club called Vecindario, Icardi soon started to turn heads due to his prolific performances as a prodigious talent. The likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona tried to lure him and eventually, he joined the La Masia in 2008. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxj87vsFukO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

He continued to shine for Barca’s youth teams, and was later loaned out to Serie A outfit Sampdoria. The Argentine marksman made his senior team debut in 2012 and after just one season in the Italian top-flight, Inter Milan decided to spend €6.5 million to acquire Icardi’s services. 

Inter Milan, the rise and the fall

Since joining the Nerazzurri, he would go on to develop into one of the most prolific strikers in all of Europe. In 2015, aged 22, he was handed the captain’s armband, as a result of his impressive exploits with Inter. 

Having said that, his off-field issues, especially due to his wife Wanda Nara, whose ex-husband Maxi Lopez was Mauro Icardi’s teammate at Sampdoria, caused a lot of trouble at the San Siro in the past couple of seasons. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxzYLA3FQXU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This is why incoming coach Antonio Conte froze the striker out of his squad completely, effectively sending out a strong message. 

Paris Saint-Germain, therefore, decided to take their chances with a player who was the top-scorer in Serie A on two occasions, in 2014-15 and 2017-18. 

Move to PSG, a new lease of life

After a prolonged transfer saga in 2019, Mauro Icardi was finally on his way to France on the last day of the transfer window. He has since earned a lot of plaudits, having scored five goals in six matches during PSG’s run to the Champions League quarter-finals. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B17GGMdgQAZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

That, combined with his 12 goals in the Ligue 1, helped the capital club win yet another domestic title after the season was cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic, and Paris Saint-Germain were awarded the title, given they had racked up a massive 12-point lead over second-placed Marseille. 

As a consequence of Icardi’s sumptuous performances, the Parisians have decided against renewing the contract of their record goalscorer Edinson Cavani, who will become a free agent in the summer

Icardi and PSG: A match made in heaven

There are a couple of things which make Mauro Icardi’s move to PSG very smart piece of business. The first factor is obviously the fee, which is considerably less for a player of his talent.

To compare, Real Madrid shelled out €60 million on Luka Jovic, who has scored just two times since joining Los Blancos from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer.

Secondly, PSG have found a worthy like-for-like successor to Edinson Cavani. Icardi might not offer the Uruguayan’s work ethic, but when it comes to finishing, few strikers in the world are more effective than the former Inter star. One cannot give this man an inch anywhere in and around the box as he’s a lethal goal-poacher.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_xkToJgxxT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Thirdly, at 27, the Argentine is still entering his peak years, so essentially, PSG have made a long-term investment. 

Moreover, judging by the initial signs, Mauro Icardi’s move to France could be his best decision till date, given he’s already struck a partnership with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, two darlings of the Parc des Princes. 

All stats courtesy: Transfermarkt.co.in

- Advertisement -

15 Highly Educated Cricketers Of All Time

Cricket is a game of passion and dedication. A sport in which one involves themselves in camps and practice since early childhood. Due to...

Why are more and more MotoGP riders using the Noson nasal dilator?

Introduction MotoGP riders or athletes are physically fit and healthy individuals and their muscles are continuously functioning and used during the performance. As a fan...

Do we often under-appreciate Andy Flower? What’s his legacy?

There's a hint of sadness in noting that Zimbabwe has never been a dominant power in world cricket. But nothing could be sadder than...

How Come UFC Fighters Have Cauliflower Ears But Boxers Don’t?

The UFC has come a long way since its early days, wherein the fights seemed like modern-day gladiators due to its brutality and inconsistent...

5 spinners who can be India’s potential finger-spinners

The Indian cricket team has always been proud of its ability to produce world-class batsmen and similarly potent spinners. Though in recent times, the...

IPL 2018: The beautiful Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Being seated in the Sawai Mansingh stadium brings a different world, a world of difference away from the palpable excitement of watching truly India’s...

Top 5 Left Wingers In The World, Based On 2019-20 Season

Owing to the fact that football has evolved a lot since its inception and the tactics have changed a lot, the role of wingers...

The astonishing decline of Mario Balotelli

There was a time when Mario Balotelli was on top of the world.  The Italian talisman had scored two goals in the Euro 2012 semi-finals,...

What can be expected from the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Heat in the air and heat inside the car- that's been the story of the Azerbaijan Grand prix. As F1 parks itself at Baku...

How Suresh Raina Batted India Into The Finals of 2011 World Cup

Its been 9 years, since India won the Cricket World Cup defeating Sri Lanka on 2 April, 2011. The images and visuals of...

Age Fraud in Indian Cricket: Are players really to be blamed?

There have been times while watching a cricket match when we tend to hear commentators comment on cricketers’ age. We as fans have many...

Ajax XI if they didn’t sell their star players

Based in Amsterdam, AFC Ajax, who incidentally draw their name from the legendary Greek hero of the same name, are the most successful club...

IPL 2018: The best from the West Indies

When one of nature's treacherous attacks on mankind- earthquakes- strike, their impact is measured on Richter's scale. When West Indians strike in a tournament...

Big change for India Women’s cricket as BCCI looks to finalise bowling coach soon

We are not even at the halfway stage of the 2018 cricketing season. It clearly seems there's no stopping India's women's cricket team. The...

5 famous players to play for both Leeds United and Liverpool

Leeds United are back in the Premier League after 16 years and will play Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday in their very first match...

- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -