At the beginning of the 2017-18 season, Inter Milan signed Italian midfielder Mauro Icardi from Sampdoria for €45 million. He was expected to be the star player for the club, but things didn't go as planned.
One of the biggest problems with Icardi is his lack of defensive work rate. The Argentine has been known for his pace and attacking ability, but he struggles when it comes to tracking back and tackling opponents.
This issue was evident in Inter's match against Bologna on September 9th, 2017. In the second half, Icardi made a mistake by not making contact with the ball carrier, allowing him to score a goal that put Inter behind 1-0.
Icardi's poor defensive play was just one of many issues that plagued Inter throughout the season. They finished in seventh place, well below expectations,Primeira Liga Hotspots and were eliminated in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Despite this, Inter president Massimo Moratti refused to sack Icardi and instead gave him more time to improve his game. However, despite some improvements, Icardi continued to struggle defensively and was eventually sold to Paris Saint-Germain in January 2018.
In conclusion, while Icardi had potential as a forward, his defensive shortcomings prevented him from being successful at Inter Milan. His departure to Paris Saint-Germain may have been a good move for both parties, as PSG could benefit from his goalscoring abilities while he gets more playing time away from Serie A.