Is Mauro Icardi worth €8 million a season to Inter Milan?

Current contract negotiations between Inter Milan and striker Mauro Icardi have seemingly hit a bit of a wall.

The issue is the annual salary Inter is offering the Argentinian. According to reports, the team is offering a salary bump to €6.5 million — up from his current €4.5 million salary he is earning this season.

Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

However, Icardi and his wife/agent Wanda Icardi are seeking around €8 million per season to go along with an increase in his release clause from €110 million to €130 million.

The biggest question here: Is Mauro Icardi worth €8 million per season to Inter?

Among the arguments for that is the fact that in his 186 matches with the club, Icardi has scored 108 times. This includes the stunner he drilled to even the score 1-1 against Tottenham Tuesday in the Champions League opener for both teams.

Since joining Inter from Sampdoria in the 2013/14 season, Icardi has found the back of the net at least 20 times in three of the last four full seasons — including 29 league goals last season.

Thus far, Icardi has four goals — three league goals and the revered shot against Tottenham.

Now, Icardi is already among the top 10 highest players in Serie A — but he is at No. 8. Those making more include:

• Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli) — €4.6 million
• Emre Can (Juventus) — €5.5 million
• Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus) — €5.5 million
• Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan) — €6 million
• Douglas Costa (Juventus) — €6 million
• Miralem Pjanic (Juventus) — €6.5 million
• Paulo Dybala (Juventus) — €7 million
• Gonzalo Higuain (AC Milan) — €9.5 million
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) — €31 million

So, to elevate Icardi to the €8 million he seeks would put him on par just above Dybala and just below Higuain.

But, is that worth it to the Nerazzurri?

Let’s be clear, no one is coming close to paying what Juventus pays its players and Icardi is certainly nowhere near Ronaldo. But, his output is better than that of Dybala and Higuain, so that would make sense.

The problem I have here is Icardi’s inconsistency on the field. Last season he had the potential to drill in close to 40 goals, but a two-month dry spell hurt that — despite him sharing the capocannoniere with Ciro Immobile. Yes, I know that Icardi was injured for a few matches in that dry spell, but there were matches where he was virtually non-existent on the pitch.

I think €6.5 million or even €7 million could be a fair offer, but €8 million after just one strong season may be a bit much to ask for.

Inter Milan Sporting Director Piero Ausilio will likely find a compromise with the Icardi’s, but let’s hope the bank isn’t broken so much that other players like Milan Skriniar doesn’t get the raise he justifiably deserves.

What do you think? Post your comments below!