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Reports in Italy today are that Argentinian striker Mauro Icardi and Inter Milan are close to a agreeing to a new deal to keep the striker at the San Siro longer.
While neither side are in any rush to sign a new deal — the current contract for Icardi doesn’t expire until 2021 — Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio said there has been ground covered and that a new deal could be finalized at any time.
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“From our side, there is the desire to improve his terms and renew his contract, while on his side there is collaboration,” Ausilio told Sky Sport Italia. “Since he has three years left to run on his contract, it’s possible that we do it in a few days or in a few months, but it’s not a problem.”
Icardi joined Inter Milan from Sampdoria in 2013 and became the club’s captain in 2015. Since joining the Nerazzurri, Icardi has scored 103 goals — including sharing the capocanniere with Ciro Immobile last season.
Thus far, he has scored three goals in six Serie A appearances and twice in Inter’s two Champions League wins — against Tottenham Hotspur and PSV Eindhoven. He is tied for seventh all time for goals scored for Inter with Christian Vieri.
He recently told Inter TV that he is happy with the club.
“They helped me grow as a player and a person,” he said. “I arrived as a boy at 20 and I can only thank Milan and Inter for the life I have now.”
Currently, the release clause for teams in Europe to get Icardi is set at €110 million, but a new contract would likely bring that to between €140 million and €180 million — pricing out most teams.
His annual salary would also increase to closer to €6 million per year.
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