With the 2016/17 Premier League coming to our screens very soon, several teams have continued their investments, bringing in players (selling some too) that would aid them in their respective ambitions. Arsenal is no different, as the club signed Granit Xhaka early in the campaign and followed up with a swoop for Japanese youngster, Takumo Asano.
Talk of Gonzalo Higuain joining the club took center stage, but with the exorbitant amounts being mentioned, it’s only normal to assume that Arsenal would back away, as they’ve done in the past. As the saying goes, Arsene Wenger only goes for a player when he’s available for the ‘right price’.
The latest rumors dominating the back pages is that Arsenal have shifted poles in Italy and have set their sights on one of their prized assets in the city of Milan. Enter Mauro Icardi, a young forward that started his native Argentina before moving to Barcelona’s youth team. After failing to make the grade at Barca, Icardi was snapped by Sampdoria, where he featured for two seasons before moving to Inter Milan. It was in Inter that he hit great heights performing at a consistent basis for the Nerazzurri. In 102 games for the Milan-based outfit, Icardi has scored 52 goals, including 16 goals in an injury-stricken campaign last season when he was announced as the new club captain. The season before that, Icardi smashed in 27 goals for Inter.
Will he fit into Arsenal’s style of play? Of course! Icardi is a very intelligent goal, pacey and physically strong with a good technique. His predatory instincts in the box with make him a thorn in the flesh of opposition defenders.
There are certain potential challenges with this deal, which includes a very highly transfer fee as well as an official statement from the club’s president, Erick Thohir of Oakenshield, declaring that the striker is not for sale at any price,
“Mauro is part of Inter’s heritage, he is our captain and he is not for sale”
A recent survey has shown that the Inter fans want the captain’s armband removed from Icardi, after just one year into his leadership, following some comments by his media personality wife, Wanda Nara, where she stated that her husband’s place in the squad is under threat, because she believes that Inter wants to sell him to generate funds. That didn’t go down well with the Nerazzurri faithful. Icardi and his wife are no strangers to controversy, especially after what happened between them and former Sampdoria teammate, Maxi Lopez.
If the price is right, I hope Arsenal can reach a fee for Icardi. That would be a massive boost for the club because he’s proven quality. But like every other transfer, we have to keep our fingers crossed.
Sayonara.
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