Mauro Icardi remains confident he can rise back up Antonio Conte’s pecking order in attack and become a key player for the Nerazzurri again, according to FcInterNews.it.

Juventus are still favourites to sign the striker and are planning a last-minute move to secure Maurito on the cheap, safe in the knowledge Inter need to sell their ex-captain.

Napoli represents a Plan B option for Icardi and Wanda Nara and the couple are continuing to play for time before responding to the Partenopei’s offer.

If Inter do not reach an agreement with Juventus, Icardi’s ‘dignified and proud’ character will ensure he stays in Milan to fight to regain his place in the first team.

Wanda sent Inter a formal request last week to allow Icardi to rejoin full training, after the club decided to exclude him from all Conte’s tactical exercises.

But Conte reportedly does not want Icardi to begin learning his style of play for fear he will join Juventus at the last minute and pass on key information.

Icardi has underlined his intention to remain at Inter by picking his new shirt number, asking Inter for no. 7 after the no. 9 was given to Romelu Lukaku.

Alexis Sanchez was due to take the no. 7 shirt when he arrives from Manchester United, but the forward could now choose to wear no. 11 like he does for Chile.

El Niño Maravilla could yet get no. 7 if Icardi leaves Inter before the transfer window on 2 September.

This would be a repeat of the scenario Stevan Jovetic experienced in 2015, when the Montenegrin swapped no. 35 for no. 10 after Mateo Kovacic left for Real Madrid within two months of his arrival.