PSG: Mauro Icardi, the good deal at 50 million euros

A first transfer finalized even before the official opening of the transfer window. As expected, the exercise of Mauro Icardi's purchase option by PSG at Inter Milan was formalized this Sunday. Loaned this season, the 27-year-old Argentine striker has signed up for four years and an annual salary estimated at 10 million euros.

Leonardo, who had tried the Icardi bet in the last hours of the summer transfer window 2019, has again demonstrated his skill in the negotiations. While the purchase option was initially set at 70 million euros, PSG will pay 50 million euros (plus 8 million euros bonus) to Inter Milan which needed cash and did not want more Icardi, cold with the supporters before his departure.

In addition, the Italian club did not want to strengthen a competitor, knowing that Juventus Turin had long been in ambush. With Cavani's scheduled departure and in a context of very uncertain transfer window, PSG was quick to settle the case of its center forward, a priority file for a long time.

"It was an opportunity not to be missed"

"Given the age of Icardi, the efficiency it demonstrates each season and the state of the attackers' market, it was an opportunity not to be missed for Paris," said the ex-international and consultant on Canal +. Mickaël Madar. With 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 million euros, there is no picture with Icardi. Compared to the amount, I would even say that it is given. 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 purchase. "

# ICARDI2024

⚽️💪 @MauroIcardi 2⃣0⃣2⃣4⃣ pic.twitter.com/TT8UHGR8jY

With Icardi, PSG also saves time and will not have to integrate a new recruit. Sidelined at Inter and deemed difficult to manage, the triple top scorer in Serie A had quickly silenced his critics. Despite a drop in regime after the truce, he scored a total of 20 goals (12 in L1, 5 in the Champions League, 3 in the League Cup) in 31 games.

He did not hang around to find automatisms with Neymar and Mbappé. "He gets on much better with them than Cavani, it's obvious," notes Madar. 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 is promising. Next season Icardi will no longer be on loan, it 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. This is what happened to the Uruguayan after the departure of Ibrahimović in 2016.

Wanda Nara, a happy wife and agent

Icardi, who remained on the bench during the double confrontation against Dortmund, will have to show his skills in the Champions League. "This is where he will be tried," says Madar. He will score his 30 goals in L1 but if he cannot make a difference in the European Cup, it is sure that it will be a blemish. But I believe in him, especially that at 27, he still has a big room for improvement. "

PSG Express

I'm registering

Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more

PODCAST. Wanda Nara and Icardi: beauty and goals

This final transfer should also stabilize the Argentinian and his blended family to which he is very attached. The question now is whether his sulphurous wife and agent Wanda Nara, who lived between Milan and Rome where she spoke on Italian television, will come to settle in their apartment in Neuilly on a daily basis. In any case, she seems delighted by this transfer: "Happy to realize your dreams, we will look for everything ... Because we have dreams to realize, thank you PSG, TOGETHER we will achieve them", she tweeted this Sunday after -midday.

🤩🤩 Feliz de cumplir tus sueños @MauroIcardi, vamos por todo ... que nos quedan sueños por cumplir
gracias @PSG_inside JUNTOS los cumpliremos ❤️
⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/q1NuBJfiU6