Inter Exclude Icardi From Pre-Season Tour

By Joshua Walters

Inter Milan have excluded their Argentine striker Mauro Icardi from their Asia pre-season tour after a mutual agreement between both parties.

The San Siro outfit in a statement confirmed the player’s exclusion from the pre-season squad.

"Mauro Icardi will today return to Milan from our training camp in Lugano.

"The club and the striker have come to this decision by mutual agreement.

"Icardi will continue his pre-season training over the next few days and will take no part in our summer tour in Asia."

The 26-year-old striker will miss Inter’s friendly games against Manchester United, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.

Icardi had a frustrating spell with Inter Milan last term as he was stripped of the captaincy by departed coach Luciano Spalletti, a status given to Samir Handanovic after he refused to sign a new deal presented to him by the club.

That led to the player missing out on several Serie A games.

Following the arrival of former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, the troubled striker was told by the club’s new chief executive, Giuseppe Marotta that he is no longer wanted in the club.

After spending six years with the Nerazzurri, a divorce seems to be nearing fruition after Icardi mutually agreed with the 2010 Champions League winners to exempt himself from the side's Asia tour on Saturday.

Inter will begin their pre-season campaign with a game against Switzerland side Lugano on Sunday before they face Manchester United in Singapore.

Icardi scored 11 goals with four assists in twenty-nine Serie A games, while his six Champions League appearances recorded 4 goals.