He started running, a huge smile on his face in order to best celebrate his first goal in an official match since February 29.
But Mauro Icardi could not go very far on the lawn of the Auguste-Delaune stadium in Reims: the arm of Alessandro Florenzi cut him off in full swing.
His race stopped but not his smile, quickly shared by his teammates who all came to congratulate him.
At the heart of a first period rich in many Parisian opportunities, Mauro Icardi scored in the 9th minute, on a movement initiated by Kylian Mbappé and concluded with a beautiful sequence of controls, hits.
Like an announcement of the Parisian victory under construction and of a renaissance in progress.
"I'm sure it will come back, we have confidence in him", had proclaimed the day before Thomas Tuchel questioned on the offensive ineffectiveness of his striker for whom Paris raised the option to buy and paid 50 million euros ( plus eight optional) at Inter Milan last May.
Now linked to the club until 2024, Icardi was starting to raise a lot of questions.
“All the scorers are sensitive guys, defended Thomas Tuchel.
It's a very important position in a team.
Mauro is demanding, he too is waiting to score.
He is going through a difficult phase.
The only thing you can do is stay calm and work.
"
A rich match
It must be recognized that the very timid Rémois undoubtedly also made it easier for him.
But Icardi, surrounded by Neymar, Mbappé and Di Maria, felt indisputably at ease in Champagne.
If he had scored in a preparation match this summer, Icardi had not yet honored his new jersey number: the 9, previously on the shoulders of Edinson Cavani, top scorer in the history of the club (200 achievements).
His 20 goals last season seemed far away.
"He is losing speed a bit but I will not be hard with him because I saw him in Italy: he is a goalscorer, Luis Fernandez, the former Parisian coach interviewed after leaving the Final, told us. 8 of the Champions League where Icardi had remained silent, then on the bench for the half and the final.
He will still score goals, everyone needs to know that!
"
Affected by the Covid-19 on his return from his vacation in Ibiza, Icardi finally launched his season this Sunday evening, supported at the kickoff by the three stars Neymar, Mbappé and Di Maria.
After a rich match and several opportunities, he finally scored a second goal (62nd) after a cross from Mbappé.
This time, it is an interminable intervention of the video assistance which came to calm his joy.
Rather, delay it.
But the essential was not there.
And it was after a hug and a pat on the stomach from Thomas Tuchel to congratulate him that he later went away to follow the end of the match on the bench after his replacement by Sarabia (77th).
