According to father, Italy 'would have started Icardi in Brazil'
Yet it seems that European clubs weren’t the only ones trying to secure Icardi’s services. In a recent interview with Argentinian newspaper El Grafico, Icardi’s father, Juan, mentioned that Italy Head Coach Cesare Prandelli had approached his son to represent the Azzurri at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“[Icardi] would have started in Brazil, Prandelli had told him as much, he’d had been ahead of Balotelli in his pecking order,” Juan Icardi explained.
“Mauro was so in demand that the Italian Under 19 side would have even paid his taxi fare to the airport. He wouldn’t listen to me, even after I told him that playing for the Under 19s wouldn’t preclude representing for Argentina down the line.”
Was Icardi ever tempted to follow in the footsteps of Oriundi like Mauro Camoranesi, Raimundo Orsi and Luisito Monti? Apparently not.
“It never crossed my mind to play for anyone but Argentina,” Icardi Jr. explained to El Grafico.
“I’m happy Sabella picked me, playing for the Albiceleste was a dream come true”. Icardi was eventually called up by former Argentina manager Alejandro Sabella for a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in 2013. It remains his one and only cap with the Albiceleste.
“It was a tough call-up for me, as I was still dogged by a sports hernia injury and was only able to play a few minutes. Then again, I’m also well aware of the fact that Argentina boasts some of the world’s best strikers.”
The former Sampdoria star doesn’t seem to have lost any sleep over turning Italy down, at a time when the striker-starved Azzurri could have likely done with a talent of his stature.
“I’m still young, I’ll get more chances in the future. I have no regrets about not choosing Italy. I’m happy they thought of me, but I’m Argentinian, and I’ve always wanted to play for my country”.
The former Barcelona youth academy product also spoke of his recent nomination to the Inter captaincy, replacing Andrea Ranocchia, who has gone from playing every week to riding the bench at the San Siro.
“Mancini ultimately made the call, with the whole club’s approval” Icardi explained.“The locker room approved as well, obviously. It had been discussed during the pre-season, but it wasn’t made official until Matchday 1. It’s a very important step forward in my career.
The former Barcelona academy product when onto discuss his relationship with second-year manager Roberto Mancini.
“We have a good relationship, but of course, as with any manager, he sometimes feels the need to raise his voice or put his foot down. It’s what he has to do to help the team improve.”
