Juventus have urged Mauro Icardi to stay at Inter for another season so they can sign him for a cut-price fee next summer, according to Corriere della Sera.
Icardi has two years left on his deal with the Nerazzurri and has been asked to reject every other destination, setting up a move to the Bianconeri in 2020.
Juventus hope this will block Inter’s attempts to sign another high-profile forward and ensure they can recruit Icardi on the cheap next year.
“Icardi risks jeopardising his career if he follows Juve’s instructions because he could spend the entire season on the bench or in the stands,” the paper warned the forward.
“Inter want to sell him and are not against the idea of doing so with Juventus, so long as they receive €70 million or Paulo Dybala in return.”
Wanda Nara and Fabio Paratici denied meeting to discuss Icardi while both were in Ibiza recently.
It seems unlikely they will not have seen each other on the Spanish island, though, given they have been in contact for months since Inter’s problems with Icardi started.
Beppe Marotta has responded to Juve’s power play by refusing to meet Roma’s €20 million asking price for Edin Dzeko.
The Nerazzurri will wait to sign the Bosnian on a free transfer next summer if the capital club do not drop their demands.
The knock-on effect is that Juve will not be able to sell Gonzalo Higuain to the Giallorossi, who would not have space in their squad for the Argentine.