Mauro Icardi and Lionel Messi share a lot of similarities but are so far apart from each other.
Both were born in Rosario, Argentina and signed for Barcelona as pre-teens after breaking goalscoring records at their local boyhood clubs. Both were friends with Maxi Rodriguez (Messi still maintains a relationship with Rodriguez), and now, both play for PSG.
However, the story has not been rosy between them, which has allegedly carried on to their time in the PSG locker room.
Icardi was surely going to be the player sacrificed for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, but reports claim that PSG's wish to offload Icardi is strongly due to how Messi perceives his teammate.
Messi and Icardi's short PSG history
The pair who have played together for Argentina on nine occasions have now spent a better part of the 2021/22 season in the same space.
Icardi is under the impression that his national team captain does not like him and believes that that is the reason he has not made it back to the Argentina squad.
In October, reports of a fallout between the pair had emerged, and it was claimed that Messi petitioned PSG to move the former Inter Milan man on. Messi was also reported to be suggesting a swap with Barcelona for Sergio Aguero at the time, just before the striker suffered the incident that led to his retirement.
Messi is a mountain mover, and the superstar obviously moved mountains at PSG when he arrived at the club. Since then, Mbappe and Neymar's relationship has changed, and the dressing room has seen new alliances formed.
PSG boss Pochettino has also been a victim of Messi's arrival at Parc De Princes and is looking into shaping the squad in the best possible way to suit his mercurial compatriot.
As such, Icardi, who has struggled to find his Inter Milan form since joining the French giants in 2019, has been earmarked for departure and is now closer to leaving than he was a year ago.
Juventus link up looking more realistic for Icardi
The former Inter Milan captain has been touted for a move back to Serie A with Juventus, but a clause in his contract seems to be preventing the move from happening.
The Turin club have been great admirers of the striker since his Sampdoria days and have had several attempts to take him to the Allianz Stadium rebuffed.
However, with Alvaro Morata's loan move coming to an end and the Old Lady's desperate as well as PSG's need to sell Icardi, the Juventus move may finally be happening.
Wanda Nara, Icardi's wife and one of the reasons for the Icardi-Messi rift has teased this move earlier in December 2021.
As per Calciomercato, Manchester United are also said to be preparing a move for Icardi should Edinson Cavani depart in the January transfer window.
Both Messi and Icardi could be free of each other in a matter of weeks.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
