For 50 million euros - plus 8 bonuses - instead of the 70 million euros provided by the initial purchase option, PSG sealed an agreement with Inter Milan to recruit Mauro Icardi (27 years old) ). Very good news, for the former PSG international striker and consultant on Canal +, Mickaël Madar.
Do you think that PSG has made the right choice by lifting Mauro Icardi's purchase option?
MICKAËL MADAR. Of course! Given his age, the efficiency he demonstrates each season and the state of the attackers' market, it was an opportunity not to be missed for Paris. At each transfer window, there are so many incredible transfers for players who are not worth it… When I see average players costing 30 or 40 M €, there is no picture with Icardi. Compared to the amount announced, I would even say that it is given. I'm not talking about those already in place. But Icardi was among the top 5 attackers available this summer. For PSG, it is a very, very good deal to have exercised its option to buy, especially at this price. Leonardo negotiated well.
What conclusions do you draw from his first season at PSG?
Icardi was a good reinforcement for PSG. For a first year, its results are very positive. He scored twenty goals (Editor's note: 12 in Ligue 1, 5 in the Champions League, 3 in the League Cup for 31 games in total) . When you score so many goals by hitting as few balls, you are a great striker. Unlike Cavani, he has almost no waste and does not need five or six chances to score. In front of the goal, he is very skilful, 9 times out of 10, he makes the right gesture. In his way of standing out, his investments, he is very good. Even if he is not the greatest technician in the world, he is a ball player, a real surface attacker.
How do you judge his agreement with Neymar and Mbappé?
He gets on much better with them than Cavani, that is obvious. We have already seen that Mbappé was looking for him a lot and had him marked. In a few months, they have already managed to find a good complementarity. It will be an asset for Paris.
After a big first part of the season, Icardi nevertheless marked time after the truce…
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He suffered a small backlash. Cavani came back and put a little pressure on him. But he is still young, he will still progress. For some players, the danger when they sign big contracts, especially in Paris, is that they fall asleep. He is not in his mentality. Next season, he will no longer be on loan, he will be an integral part of the project. Psychologically, it's totally different. Cavani will no longer be there so it will also free him. I think that Paris must put a young person behind him to be able to sometimes put him down but without pushing him too hard. Next season, he will exceed 30 goals, which he would have already done this season if it had not stopped.
He will nevertheless be eagerly awaited in the Champions League…
Yes, it is in the European Cup that he will be judged. With the players he has around him, many will think that it is almost normal to score as much in Ligue 1. If he cannot make a difference, it is sure that it will stain. But I believe in him, especially that at 27, he still has a big room for improvement.
