Inter head coach Luciano Spalletti is unwilling to continue discussing Mauro Icardi’s situation, vowing to focus solely on those who “care about the fate of Inter”.
Icardi was stripped of the club’s captaincy this month and then withdrew himself from selection for the Europa League last-32 first-leg tie against Rapid Vienna on February 14, citing a knee injury.
The Argentina striker has since missed Serie A games against Sampdoria and Fiorentina, as well as the second leg against Rapid.
The 26-year-old has been linked with Juventus, but his wife and agent Wanda Nara this week said he was “super happy” at the club.
Ahead of Inter’s trip to Cagliari on Friday, Spalletti did not want to speak about Icardi.
“Many things have already been said about Icardi by [chief executive Giuseppe] Marotta and [president Steven] Zhang,” said the coach.
“From now on I’ll only talk about the players that are available for selection, not those who aren’t, because they’re the ones who are on the field and care about the fate of Inter.
“I won’t talk about the others anymore.”
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Spalletti instead chose to praise the contribution of Icardi’s replacement Lautaro Martinez.
The former Racing Club forward has failed to score in his last three games but put in an all-action display in Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Fiorentina.