Spalletti: No issue with Icardi watching Superclasico in Madrid
Reported Real Madrid target Mauro Icardi watched the Superclasico in Spain, yet Inter boss Luciano Spalletti insisted there was no issue.
Published : Dec 10, 2018 21:34 IST
Inter coach Luciano Spalletti claimed he had no problem with rumoured Real Madrid target Mauro Icardi watching Sunday's Superclasico in the Spanish capital just two days before a crunch Champions League tie.
Argentina international Icardi was in the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and bitter rival River Plate, the latter emerging victorious to win a fourth title.
Inter will look to its talisman Icardi as Spalletti's men seek to continue their progress in their own continental competition when they face PSV on Tuesday.
Icardi's presence in Madrid on Sunday has been a talking point before that game – when Inter needs to pick up more points than Tottenham to qualify – but Spalletti is perplexed as to why it is an issue for some.
"I do not see the problem," he told a news conference.
"There was the Juventus delegation and the Inter executives. I do not see where the problem is.
"It's like going to dinner somewhere else, it was with the wife to see a show."
Spalletti confirmed that Matias Vecino and fellow midfielder Radja Nainggolan are unlikely to be involved at San Siro against the Eredivisie champion.
Inter knows it needs a helping hand from Barcelona even if it beats PSV.
Ernesto Valverde's side hosts Spurs and has already qualified as group winner, yet Spalletti has urged his players not to worry about the game at Camp Nou.
"The only mistake we can make is worrying about the game in Barcelona," he said.
"They're serious professionals there. We just need to win our match."