Mauro Icardi is moving ever closer to extending his contract at Inter with reports describing his upcoming renewal as ‘a formality’.

Maurito has once again been linked with a move to Real Madrid by the Spanish press this week – a scenario described by Tuttosport as ‘science fiction’ following the two clubs’ ongoing legal dispute concerning Luka Modric – but the reality is that he is not moving anywhere fast as the Nerazzurri prepare for their most high-profile season yet since his arrival from Sampdoria in 2013.

“Icardi is completely immersed in the role of being Inter’s captain,” the Turin-based publication wrote on Sunday morning. “The arrival of Lautaro Martinez has given him a strike partner to play with, Suning’s solidity has provided him with a top quality team for the season ahead, and in Luciano Spalletti he’s found a coach determined to get the best out of him as the team’s attacking terminal.

“Despite new reports from Madrid that suggest Real could be interested in Icardi his future will be black-and-blue. His contract extension will be a formality, just like it was for Spalletti, with an increasing number of rumours that Piero Ausilio and Wanda Nara have already reached an agreement which simply needs ratifying.”

Icardi will make his first appearance of the new season when Inter begin their Serie A campaign against Sassuolo, and he will be doubly determined to do well as the Mapei Stadium has traditionally been an unhappy hunting ground for the 25 year-old.

Maurito has only scored once in five visits to Reggio Emilia and that one goal was overshadowed by the unsavoury scenes that then followed the final whistle, when he argued with a section of Inter’s away supporters after a 3-1 defeat in 2015.

His most recent trip, on the other hand, saw him miss a second-half penalty as Luciano Spalletti’s side slipped to a 1-0 loss before Christmas. On Sunday he will return to ‘the scene of the crime’ with the aim of laying his demons to rest.