Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici admitted that the club were eager on signing Mauro Icardi from their arch rivals Inter Milan before the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentine was one of the hottest prospects of last year’s summer transfer window after reportedly failing to agree terms to a new contract with Inter after a 29 goal season.
Icardi is considered to be one of the best and most sought after strikers in the world today, being linked to clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus in the summer. The number 9 was on the Old Lady’s radar before they knew of the Ronaldo option, Paratici told Gazzetta dello Sport. However, after the sporting director was made aware of the availability of the Portuguese by Jorge Mendes, there happened to be no doubt in his mind.
“He told me ‘if Juventus can match the demand, he wants to come’. I was shocked, there was silence.”, Paratici told Gazzetta dello Sport. He also added, “I remember when I told Angelli and Nedved, they thought I was crazy! The next thing I knew, we were at the airport chartering flights for him and Mendes, it was completely ridiculous!”
The 34 year old joined the Bianconeri in the 2018 summer transfer window and has scored 20 goals in 32 appearances. Juventus face Frosinone on Friday in the Serie A before travelling to Atletico Madrid on the 20th for a crunch Champions League tie.
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