Icardi responds to Inter protest

By Football Italia staff

Mauro Icardi has written an open letter to Inter ultras after they demanded he be stripped of the captaincy over an autobiography row.

The striker wrote in his book that he became “a hero” to teammates after confronting the fans in 2015, but they hit back and insist it was all “squalid lies” to make himself look strong.

Ahead of this afternoon’s Serie A match with Cagliari at San Siro, the Argentine responded via Instagram.

“Dear Curva Nord, I am surprised and disappointed,” wrote Icardi.

“I am surprised because I simply referred to the fact I lost my temper in the heat of the moment, combined with the adrenaline of the match and the bad moment the team was going through.

“I simply wanted to sum up the atmosphere of that incident. It’s true that in the book I spat out some exaggerated phrases (and the verb spat gives a good idea of how inopportune my reaction was).

“As for the issue of getting assassins from Argentina, as people continued to tell me that I would’ve found some hooligans under my house (note: not the Curva Nord members, but hooligans), I said that phrase. In the biography I also wrote that ‘I used threatening words towards the fans and I shouldn’t have done that.’

“I am disappointed. Disappointed with the chaos that has been brought up. I simply gave my recollection of an incident. If I had the slightest brain in my skull, I certainly wouldn’t have risked offending the curva. I didn’t want to offend or disrespect anyone.

“The captain’s armband represents the realisation of my childhood dreams, the joy that I gave first of all to my family and then to myself.

“You are the ones who I look out for every Sunday after scoring a goal, it is your embrace I seek first, because I love Inter.

“Imminently I will step on to the field, so I can’t go on any more. I hope you understood how important you are for me and how much respect and love I have for you, even if you decide to jeer me.

“I ask you just one thing as captain: stay close to Inter, as you always have done, because my teammates and I need you. With affection, Mauro.”

The ultras did not accept his explanation, as there were jeers and insults as he walked out for the warm-up ahead of the Cagliari game.

Above all, there was a large banner in the stands that read: 'You use a child to justify yourself and fling mud at us... You are not a man... You are not a captain... You are just a vile piece of ...'

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