Mauro Icardi has been linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid. The Argentine forward has been prolific in front of goal for Inter, netting an impressive 13 goals in 15 appearances this season. He could be the ideal replacement for Karim Benzema and will reportedly make the switch from Milan to Madrid in the summer transfer window.
Former Milan forward turned sports commentator Daniele Massaro was today quoted in Marca;
“I can tell you today that Mauro Icardi will be a Real Madrid striker next year. His arrival will be at the expense of Benzema.”
Karim Benzema is a divisive character and it’s fair to say that opinion is split on the Frenchman among Madridistas. This is his ninth season at the club and his rate of scoring has suffered a sharp decline. In la Liga he scored 24 times in 24 matches in 2015-16 but could only manage 11 goals from 29 games last season. This year, he’s scored just once in 8 matches so far.
Out With The Old In With The New
Although he seems to have been around forever, Benzema only actually turns 30 next month, so still has a number of years ahead of him. Recently Zinedine Zidane has used the player as a scapegoat saying that Benzema needs to “offer more”. The Real Madrid hierarchy will be monitoring his goal return closely and could try to offload him while he’s young enough to lure a sizeable transfer fee.
Mauro Icardi is coming of age and finding his best form at 24. He joined the Nerazzurri from Sampdoria four years ago and has scored 91 goals for the club. On Sunday night his brace gave Inter an important win and it’s clear he’s the type of player that can turn a game on his own. With Benzema misfiring, it could be a case of out with the old, in with the new this summer.
