Former Inter Milan striker Diego Milito believes the in-form Mauro Icardi is now as valuable as Gonzalo Higuain, who joined Juventus from Napoli for €90 million this summer.

Icardi, 23, has scored four goals in four Serie A appearances this term, and against Juventus on Sunday he netted the equaliser before setting up Ivan Perisic to score the winner in a 2-1 victory for Inter.

The former Sampdoria forward, who joined Inter three years ago, scored 38 goals across the last two Serie A seasons and is now on course for his most prolific season yet.

Milito, who was part of Inter's Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble-winning side in 2010, says that Icardi should now be called up to the Argentina squad, having so far only won one cap as an 82nd-minute substitute against Uruguay in October 2013.

"Icardi is worth as much as he [Higuain] is," Milito told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Even though Gonzalo [28] has more experience, having played at certain levels with Real Madrid, I can still see them both battling it out for the Serie A top-scorer's prize.

"Everybody knew he was a killer in front of goal, but he was a true team player against Juve. Just look at the way he opened up [Leonardo] Bonucci and [Giorgio] Chiellini and the fouls he took to help his team move up the field -- and he's only 23.

Mauro Icardi celebrates after scoring against Juventus. Getty

"His main problem [for the national team] is the competition. I know it very well as I had to fight my way in between [Lionel] Messi, [Carlos] Tevez, [Sergio] Aguero, [Hernan] Crespo, [Javier] Saviola... but Mauro really deserves a callup now."

Icardi's performance on Sunday evening has given rise to renewed optimism in the Nerazzurri camp and Milito believes they can and must aim for the very top this season.

"Inter are always obliged to aim for the maximum," he said. "Beating the champions just proves how much this team is worth. I already liked what I saw of them against Pescara, where they showed great character.

"They added some good football against Juventus and they have got to get back into the Champions League. They will be fighting it out with Juve, Napoli and Roma, who have more settled teams, while I can't see anybody else keeping up with them."

Icardi, meanwhile, says the idea of leaving Inter never entered his mind during the summer transfer window, while Inter coach Frank de Boer reserved particular praise for Icardi after the win over champions Juve.