Real Madrid's Icardi prediction has come true

Real Madrid have spent several years looking for a forward who can cover for Karim Benzema in attack and act as the Frenchman's long-term replacement.

Mariano Diaz and Luka Jovic have been the operated as the back-up strikers in the last couple of seasons, but Los Blancos had previously monitored several No.9s, such as Edinson Cavani and Mauro Icardi.

Drop in form

Icardi was placed on Real Madrid's radar in the January transfer windows of 2017 and 2018, when Los Blancos studied the possibility of making an offer for the then-Inter striker.

The Argentine was in the best form of his career back in 2016/17 and 2017/18, when he scored 26 and 29 goals, respectively, in all competitions for the Nerazzurri.

Since then, however, things have changed as Icardi departed Inter after having issues with the club and moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, initially on loan before joining permanently.

Despite PSG paying 50 million euros for the 28-year-old, Icardi has struggled to hold down a regular spot in the PSG starting line-up, as evidenced by his disappointing seven goals in just 23 appearances last season.

Real Madrid decided against moving for Icardi

It was when he stood out for Inter that Real Madrid monitored his situation and decided against signing Icardi, as it was deemed that his entourage could be problematic.

"We can't sign that player and it is not his fault," voices from the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu offices said after watching Icardi's wife, Wanda Nara, participating in Italian TV shows.

Los Blancos were not fond of Icardi's entourage and the public exposure of the footballer and his wife.

Several years later, it looks as though Real Madrid made the right decision as the couple have sparked controversy again, with Icardi missing a few training sessions to visit her in Milan after she allegedly found out that he had cheated on her and decided to leave Paris.

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