Mauro Icardi’s refusal to leave Inter has set an unexpected trend in a frustrating summer transfer window for Serie A’s biggest clubs, according to Corriere della Sera.

Inter, Juventus and Milan have all found it ‘almost impossible’ to sell their unwanted players because everyone has decided they want to stay put.

The Nerazzurri now face the prospect of having to keep their former captain until at least January, despite having no intention of letting him play for the club again.

“Instead of changing his mind, Icardi has become a sort of example for everyone else,” Stefano Agresti wrote.

“Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala do not want to leave Juventus, just like Sami Khedira, Blaise Matuidi and Mario Mandzukic; while Gianluigi Donnarumma has said he would prefer to stay at Milan rather than join Paris Saint-Germain.

“It’s the trend of the summer, an unexpected and unusual bandwagon which is causing serious problems for our biggest clubs.

“Building strong squads is important these days but so is having your accounts in order. For this reason, selling those players you don’t need has become crucial: it brings in money and rids you of expensive wages.

“In two weeks’ time we’ll survey the results, but while some players will have decided to move on many will stay where they are.

“Those who stay will be glowered at by their coaches, who won’t know what to do with them, but even more so by their sporting directors, who will be asked to explain why they have millions of euros wasting away on the bench or in the stands.”