Inter

By Max Wise

Inter Milan’s Ultras supporters group, the Curva Nord, have no intentions of forgiving star striker Mauro Icardi, despite the Argentine making a goalscoring comeback against Genoa in midweek.

Aside scoring from the penalty spot, Icardi assisted another and forced a sending off for an opposition player in an impressive centre-forward display.

Icardi had not played for the Nerazzurri since being stripped of the captaincy in February, with comments from his wife and agent, Wanda Nara, particularly angering supporters and club officials.

Icardi’s contract expires in the summer of 2021, but he is yet to sign an improved deal despite the club presenting him with one.

Ahead of Inter Milan’s home game against Atalanta on Sunday, the Curva Nord has issued a statement imploring the club to get rid of their former captain.

The group’s statement on Saturday read: "Awaiting tomorrow's important game, we reiterate the position of the Curva Nord.

"We are not ones to dictate what other fans at San Siro ought to do. We are not interested in making lists of who is better or more of an Inter fan.

"But we will not backtrack on Icardi. He cannot be the future of Inter. Refusing to wear the jersey on more than one occasion with ridiculous excuses, he dug his own grave.

"If Inter officials were too wavering in their behaviour, that cannot be our problem. The basic issue remains. Let's leave the fairy tales to issues of internal survival in a split that, at this stage, looks to be irreparable.

"As far as we are concerned, the time of 'I'd like to but I cannot' is over. We made our views clear at the training ground and during the Genoa game. We'll continue to express them during the matches with the methods we consider best.

"Having said that, we are fans. We go to the stadium to cheer on Inter, to help the team to victory - not to give more importance than is necessary to a figure who we had finished with a long time ago.

"Do not fear, Icardi will be considered as much as is right. Perhaps those who expect 90 minutes of chants against him will be disappointed, but let's not confuse what is best for Inter with hypocrisy."