Mauro Icardi always seems to be involved in some sort of controversy.
He is adjudged to have stolen the wife of former Sampdoria teammate Maxi Lopez, who was married to Argentinian celebrity Wanda Nara for five years and then split, before entering a relationship with Icardi and subsequently marrying and having two kids not too long after Lopez and Nara got divorced.
Anytime Icardi has come up against Lopez in a game, the latter has refused to shake hands with him and his relationship with Wanda has led to a lot of bad press and criticism from the media and fans alike.
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He also hit headlines when he spoke negatively about Inter Milan's ultras in his autobiography and they were utterly furious.
It all stemmed from a defeat back in February 2015 where Inter suffered a disappointing loss at the hands of Sassuolo. There was an incident after the game where Icardi and Fredy Guarin had their shirts threw back at them when they went to give them to travelling fans.
His version of events in the book reads:
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"I am angry because I played so little. The fans start to shout: they call us to come over to their section. I find the courage to face them, along with Guarin.
"As I get closer, I receive insults and abuse of every kind. Attached to the netting is a kid who calls me: he wants my shirt.
"Considering his age, he could be my son: I take off my shirt and shorts and throw them to him, as a gift. This kid is in seventh heaven and I am pleased to see him so happy.
"A head of the ultras jumps on him to take away the shirt and throws it back at me. This is when I start insulting him: 'Piece of ****, you are acting all arrogant with a little kid to show off to the rest of the curva? Do you think you're hard?'
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"In the locker room I am acclaimed as a hero, because nobody had ever faced off that way with one of the fan leaders."
What caused even more of a stir was his comments that he would call upon a number of criminals from Argentina to tackle the ultras.
An extract from the book reads:
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"I am ready to face them one by one. How many are there? 50, 100, 200? OK, record my message and let him listen: I'll bring 100 criminals from Argentina who'll kill them where they stand, then we'll see."
Inter's 'Curva Nord' were angry and issued their own statement in response to the autobiography.
Deeming the incident to have been fabricated, they demanded that he relinquished the captain's armband.
They said:
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"He talks about helping little kids, then invents an incident that never happened to make himself seem superior to us, as if it weren't obvious to all that we are the only Curva that helps kids design the choreography in the stands.
"You are finished with us. You're done. TAKE THE ARMBAND OFF, YOU CLOWN. Yes, that is what we demand."
Icardi then took to Instagram to clarify his earlier comments and apologise to the Inter ultras.
A banner from the ultras was displayed outside the striker's home back in October.
Icardi was hit with a fine and forced to get rid of the chapter from his autobiography as a result of the fiasco.
But today there is focus on the more positive side of Icardi, who produced a fantastic gesture for a young 7-year old Inter Milan fan this weekend.
The captain was banned for two games for protesting the decisions of the referee in the game against Juventus a couple of weeks back and so had to watch the game against Empoli from the stands.
That meant that the young Inter fan, who idolises Icardi and got tickets for the Empoli game, would not be able to fulfil his dream of seeing him, playing live, in the flesh.
His father wrote to Icardi's wife Wanda, who also serves as his agent.
Translated by SempreInter, his request read:
"Dear Wanda, from a fantastic mother that you are, so attentive to the needs of children, I am asking you for help, I know you receive thousands of requests. I've made so many sacrifices to buy tickets for the Empoli match in order to realise my son's dream to see his 'Maurito' live.
Unfortunately, we know that destiny would have it another way but I would like to ask you if we can make his dream come true in any way... a dream of a 7 year old child who sees Mauro as his unique HERO.
He talks about Mauro 24 hours a day and not being able to let him to see Mauro live which would destroy this dream, is heart-wrenching. I am asking you for help Wanda. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and sorry to have disturbed you. A father who believes in dreams."
Obviously there was no way they could somehow magically let Icardi play but together the Icardis arranged for the young fan to meet his hero prior to the game and his father posted an image of his son with the Inter skipper.
He also got to watch the game sat right next to his idol, with Wanda Icardi posting a picture of her husband watching Inter alongside the young fan and his Dad.
An absolutely brilliant gesture from Icardi and his wife to make the kid's dream come true.
(h/t 101 Great Goals)
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