Editorial: Divisions are driving a wedge with Inter Milan fans

I spend a lot of time looking at news and comments therein related to Inter Milan. Part of it is my job, but a bigger reason is because of my love of the club and the desire to know what is going on and what people are thinking.

Over the last several weeks, my heart has hurt because of what I have witnessed.

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I could relive the timeline of the drama between Mauro Icardi, Luciano Spalletti and the club, but it would just open up wounds I am not interested in opening up.

What hurts the most is the division that drama has caused with Interisti.

There are clear lines drawn between those who want Icardi out, those who want Spalletti out and those who want them both out.

And sometimes the dialogue can be a little vitriolic.

It is somewhat reminiscent of the political back-and-forth we see on a daily basis in the United States. And it is painful to see.

Now, with the Serpents of Madonnina community, you should all be commended because the discussion regarding the drama has not stooped to that kind of level. It goes to show what a great community of fans can do in the midst of controversy.

That is one of the many reasons why this community is one of the best in the world.

But, the media, blogs included, seem to keep fanning the flames of this issue, bringing out the kind of dialogue I am referring to.

Now, as a former journalist, I get the need for the media to do that. It is news and it does drive readership. One of the reasons we don’t have Icardi-watch or Spalletti-watch is because there are many other things to discuss and I don’t want to detract from that any more than necessary.

The biggest thing is that this issue needs to be put to bed … once and for all. We need to forge ahead from it, no matter what direction the club decides to go.

Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

In my humble opinion, both Spalletti and Icardi need to go at the end of the season. Their respective conduct over the last few months has been deplorable to say the least. From airing the club’s laundry openly on television and to newspapers to calling out players and making the comments like Spalletti did Sunday following the 1-0 loss to Lazio just drive the wedge deeper.

Refusing to play because of the captain’s armband is childish and petty. It certainly is not putting the crest on the front of the shirt ahead of the name on the back.

For Spalletti, a manager should know better. Keep these things behind closed doors because it only weakens your position with the team and the fans to continue to air them in public.

It is unnecessary and uncalled for.

Inter Milan President Steven Zhang needs to step in with both Icardi and Spalletti and say ‘enough is enough.’

This has to stop.

And, it is up to us, as a community, to not let this round of drama get the best of us.

We are still in the middle of a Champions League battle and there is still plenty to discuss regarding the future of this team. And, I know this drama is part of it, but it isn’t all of it.

This is our club. We rejoice when they are successful and lament when they aren’t. It is because we are passionate about who they are and what they represent.

As for the Spalletti-Icardi issue, the simplest solution is to move them both out at the end of the season. The hope is that there is enough temporary middle ground so as not to further poison this club more than the drama already has.

What do you think? Post your comments below!