Inter captain Icardi in top form ahead of trip to Juventus
MILAN (AP) Not even interest from Real Madrid is likely to draw Mauro Icardi away from Inter Milan.
The 24-year-old Inter captain has scored 16 goals in 15 matches this season, and the last one moved him into a tie for 10th place on the club's all-time scoring chart with 94.
Icardi, whose performances have reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid, celebrated that achievement by posting a picture of the list on Instagram.
''I don't have words to describe this moment,'' Icardi wrote. ''It's a very lovely moment which represents the commitment and sacrifice that I have done in these years at Inter.
''Today, in my fifth season in Milan, I have entered into the history of the club as the 10th goalscorer of all time. Thanks to all of you for the support you give me every day.''
On Saturday, Icardi will lead Inter against six-time defending champion Juventus in Serie A.
The last time Inter traveled to Turin to play Juventus, the team lost 1-0. Ivan Perisic was sent off and Icardi was handed a two-match ban after he made comments to the referee at the end of the game and kicked the ball away.
Inter slipped to fifth and Juventus moved six points clear at the top.
This time, Inter heads into the match at the top of the standings and unbeaten in its opening 15 matches.
Icardi, who has been at Inter since 2013, has extended his contract until 2021. The new deal, signed last year, included a 110 million euro ($130 million) release clause.
However, there is talk of increasing the value of the clause - especially in the wake of Paris Saint-Germain spending 222 million euros ($262 million) to take Neymar from Barcelona.
''There's no need to convince Icardi to tie himself to Inter,'' Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio told Italian national broadcaster Rai. ''He has a lengthy contract, but what matters more is his desire. Mauro is captain of Inter, he wants to be so and he wants to win with Inter. All that is more important than contracts and release clauses.''
