PSG’s Mauro Icardi: “At Inter I Was Criticised A Lot For Not Having Many Ball Touches” | OneFootball

Former Inter captain Mauro Icardi has addressed the criticism that he was subjected to whilst playing in Italy for Inter.

The Argentine striker often found himself criticised in the media and by pundits for how little he participated in Inter’s play during his spell with the Nerazzurri but the player has come out and stated that this is quite simply his style of play.

“In Italy I was criticised a lot because I only touched the ball a few times, but to be honest my game has always been like this, staying in the shadows and then appearing at the right moment,” he explained in an interview with sports broadcaster DAZN, which was broadcast last night.

“Being here today, with the class that my teammates have, always holding the ball and imposing our game, I believe I must always be ready in the box for when the right moment arrives.

“You have to take advantage of the right moment to put it in. When you scores it is the crowning of your weekly work, the effort you make by sacrificing so many things living far from your country. Scoring is a prize.”

He then went on to discuss some of the differences between Ligue 1 and Serie A: “They are two very different leagues, in Italy the game is more tactical while in France it is less so.

“Obviously we are PSG and the opponents are waiting for us, there is not much room to play easily but it is something I experienced in my spell in Italy. At Inter we were in the same situation, so I was already used to it.”

Icardi joined Inter in 2013 from Sampdoria and spent seven years on Inter’s books before being sold to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season following a fruitful loan spell in the French capital.

The 27-year-old, who came through the academy ranks at La Liga club Barcelona, made 219 appearances across all competitions for Inter, in which he scored 124 goals and tallied 28 assists for his teammates.