Juventus have left their no. 9 shirt unassigned because they want Mauro Icardi to wear it this season, according to Tuttosport.
Gonzalo Higuain is still on the Bianconeri’s books after returning from Chelsea, but he was given the no. 21 for their preseason tour in Asia.
Icardi was left at home when Inter flew out to Singapore on Tuesday and will train alone at Appiano Gentile until they return.
The forward flew to Ibiza to join his wife Wanda Nara for the weekend, refusing to speak to reporters when they doorstepped him at the airport.
The situation surrounding Inter’s former captain is far from ideal for Antonio Conte, who yesterday told reporters the club were ‘behind schedule’ with their transfer business.
Juventus know Inter need to trim their squad and are waiting for Icardi’s price tag to drop, having agreed to sell Higuain to Roma in the meantime.
Napoli are trying to persuade Icardi to change his mind but at the moment he would only accept a move to Turin.
Tuttosport concluded: “That no. 9 shirt left free is a double message from Juventus: pushing Higuain away from them and bringing Icardi towards them.”
