Mauro Icardi was warned he would regret staying at Inter today by the Nerazzurri’s former striker Alessandro Altobelli.
Inter’s hierarchy met their former captain yesterday and made it clear there was no chance of earning a second chance under Antonio Conte.
Altobelli spent 10 years playing up front for Inter and urged his successor not to throw his career away.
“I think he only wants to join Juventus out of spite towards Inter,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It will be difficult if Fabio Paratici signs Romelu Lukaku, though, so he will have to change his strategy and accept an offer from Napoli or Roma.
“When the league starts again he’ll be too hungry to play football to sit on the side-lines.
“Trust me as a former centre-forward: watching other strikers score goals on the TV is painful.”
Altobelli told Icardi his only true mistake last season was to refuse his call-up for Inter’s Europa League match against Rapid Vienna, having been stripped of the club captaincy the previous morning.
He added: “He should have taken to the field more fired up than ever. Instead…”
The former Italy international admitted he was pleased Lukaku would join Juventus, because it would prevent him from having to see Icardi wear the Bianconeri’s shirt.
Altobelli was convinced Juve’s move was a clear attempt to disrupt Inter’s transfer plans, as they prepare a Scudetto challenge under Antonio Conte.
“They know Inter have the resources to cause them problems again and had a clear strategy to throw a spanner in the works,” he said.
