Why signing Mauro Icardi could fire Real Madrid to domestic glory

Real Madrid are eyeing up a £98m move for Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi to replace star man Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentine striker, who earns €4.5m-a-year, wasn’t included in Jorge Sampaoli’s World Cup squad despite being a joint top-scorer in the Serie A last season, which was a surprise, to say the least.

With Ronaldo out of the picture and Karim Benzema expected to be on the fringes, it makes sense for Los Blancos to sign Icardi. The 25-year-old will bring ruthlessness in front of the goal which may just fill the void left by the Portuguese superstar.

Here’s everything you need to know about Icardi and why he can push Real Madrid to a La Liga win next season:

Player Analysis –  Mauro Icardi

Age – 25

Main Position – Forward

The first thing to note about Icardi is his lethal streak in front of the goal, which makes him a potent threat to any defence. He netted 29 goals in 34 league appearances last season to justify his tag as one of the best strikers in European football right now. The 25-year-old’s height allows him to physically dominate centre-backs as well, winning aerial duels at a rate of 1.1 per game.

To add to his lengthy list of qualities, Icardi also has a quick turn of pace with the ball to go past defenders in a flash. Most opponent defenders often believe that they are in the game until the attacker gets past him without his consent, making Icardi’s pace a brilliant asset.

The striker’s physicality permits him to be a menace from set-piece situations, which is an added headache for the defenders. So all in all, the Argentine is an all-around threat who could make the difference at Santiago Bernabeu.

Conclusion

New manager Julien Lopetegui must have a finisher like Icardi in his squad to kick-start his Real Madrid career. It would help the Spaniard to build the attacking force around him since the Argentine’s reliability in front of the goal is something to appreciate and cherish.

Read More: Tips to Lopetegui – Real Madrid must go all out to beat Man City and sign this £120m-rated playmaker

For the player himself, it will be a massive opportunity to fill in the shoes of Cristiano Ronaldo and make a name for himself in Real Madrid’s illustrious history.

Stats Courtesy – Whoscored.com