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MILAN (Reuters) – Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, absent from the group and clearly in disgrace since mid-February as an extension of negotiations for the renewal of the contract, will be back for the match of Serie A Wednesday in Genoa, announced Tuesday coach Luciano Spalletti.
PHOTO FILE: Football Football – Serie A – Inter Milan vs Lazio – San Siro, Milan, Italy – 31st March 2019 Mauro Icardi of Inter Milan look from the stands before the match REUTERS / Daniele Mascolo / File Photo
Inter's top scorer in each of the previous four seasons was stripped of his armband after being involved in negotiations for a new deal. Argentina then said that he could not play because of a knee problem.
But the situation seems to be corrected.
"Icardi has been selected and tomorrow will be in the starting lineup," Spalletti said at a press conference. "The conditions are now right for Mauro to help the team again.
"He posted the right reaction," added the coach. "He's been well trained in recent days … Blood, sweat and tears are needed to play under our colors."
Inter, who is aiming for a top-four spot that would earn him a spot in the Champions League next season, is third in Serie A although only eight points separate them from Turin in the ninth.
Icardi returned to training last week after negotiations between his lawyer and the club, but Spalletti excluded him from the match for Sunday's game against Lazio, who had been beaten 1-0 by Inter.
Spalletti's tone Tuesday was very different from Sunday's game when he said it was "humiliating" for Inter to negotiate with a player to play it.
On Tuesday, he said that the general manager, Giuseppe Marotta, had played a crucial role in improving the situation and that there was no gap between Icardi and the rest of the team.
"Our team is united. We are strong, "he insisted.
Written by Brian Homewood; Edited by Hugh Lawson
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