Out-of-favour Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi is reportedly open to joining Real Madrid before the transfer window closes.
According to Defensa Central, Mauro Icardi would welcome the idea of joining Real Madrid this summer as his time at Paris Saint-Germain could be coming to an end. The Spanish and European champions are on the lookout for a new striker to provide cover for Karim Benzema and are looking at the Argentine as an option.
Icardi signed for PSG from Inter Milan in the summer of 2019, initially on loan, and enjoyed a solid debut season in France. It prompted Les Parisiens to sign him permanently but things have not quite gone as per plans for the Argentine since then. He has started just 21 Ligue 1 matches over the past couple of seasons, finding himself behind Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar in the pecking order.
With PSG also adding Hugo Ekitike this summer, Icardi’s prospects of featuring under new manager Christophe Galtier have taken a further hit and the Parisian giants are ready to offload him this summer. A move to newly-promoted Serie A side Monza had been spoken about, but things have gone quiet on that front of late.
At the same time, there have been surprise links with Real Madrid, who are on the hunt for a new striker this summer. Los Blancos have parted ways with Luka Jovic and Borja Mayoral already in the ongoing transfer window, with the former joining Fiorentina and the latter returning to Getafe, this time on a permanent transfer.
It has left Mariano Diaz as the only backup for Benzema in the No. 9 role, but the Spanish capital club are looking to offload the 28-year-old as well. And with Real Madrid Castilla forward Juanmi Latasa likely to be on his way out as well, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will need to bring in a new centre-forward to cover for and compete with Benzema.
Timo Werner had been linked with a move to the Bernabeu, but the Chelsea ace is on his way back to RB Leipzig. Other forwards like Benjamin Sesko and Amine Gouiri are also on their radars, while Icardi is also said to be a name under consideration. And now, the report states that the Argentine international would be open to making the switch to Real Madrid if an opportunity presented itself.
However, relations between Real Madrid and PSG are frosty at best following the Kylian Mbappe transfer saga in the summer. So, whether the two clubs can agree on a deal if Los Blancos are serious about signing the 29-year-old will be interesting to see.