Mauro Icardi to rewrite book after row with Inter Milan Ultras
Fans turn on striker after he claims in memoir he would bring '100 criminals from Argentina' to kill them
Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi is to rewrite sections of his autobiography in the wake of the fury of fans of the Italian club, who have turned on the Argentine striker over comments he made about them in the book.
In the memoir, Icardi recalled a confrontation with Inter's fanatical 'Ultras' after a defeat to Sassuolo last year. He claimed that he was hailed as an "idol" in the dressing room for standing up to the supporters in the wake of the defeat and said he was not intimidated by the hardcore fans as he could "bring 100 criminals from Argentina who will kill them".
His words provoked a furious response from Inter fans who have displayed banners at the San Siro branding him a "clown" and a "piece of s***", and even cheered when he missed a penalty against Cagliari. They are demanding that he is stripped of the captaincy and sold in the next transfer window.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Some angry fans reportedly even set up camp outside his house demanding to know when his 100 "friends" would be arriving. They only left when confronted by an armed security guard, says the Daily Mail.
Icardi has subsequently issued an apology of sorts. "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," he said.
Now Paolo Fontanesi, who co-wrote the book, entitled Sempre Avanti [Always Forward], says it will be revised and republished, according to the website Football Italia.
"Mauro will take advantage in this reprint in order to say new things; it will not just be a case of removing a page, there will be some modified parts and the player will take the opportunity to put forward what happened.
"He will explain that it is something that happened in the past and he rightly takes responsibility for what he said. I have told him to say how the situation has changed now, how it is different," said Fontanesi. "I hope he makes peace with the Curva."
Since the row blew up, Inter have rejected calls to strip Icardi of the captaincy and have insisted he will not be sold. Inter beat Southampton 1-0 at the San Siro on Thursday night and although Icardi did not score he played the entire 90 minutes for the Italian side.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
Inspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
By The Week Junior Published
-
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
By The Week UK Published
-
Parmigianino: The Vision of St Jerome – masterpiece given 'new lease of life'
The Week Recommends 'Spectacularly inventive' painting is back on display at the National Gallery
By The Week UK Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Klopp’s unwanted record as Liverpool lose again at Anfield
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Tiger Woods and Tom Brady
By Mike Starling Published