This season, Agüero and Icardi are neck and neck on the Premier League Golden Boot leaderboard, almost swapping places between first and second starting from the first round.
Commentators believe that this season’s Premier League Golden Boot will likely come down to these two!
In fact, if Messi and Ronaldo even slightly let their guard down, one of Agüero or Icardi might break the six-year super dominance of Messi and Ronaldo for the European Golden Boot!
So it’s no wonder that when Icardi heard about Agüero’s injury, he was so excited he slid and knelt in the living room!
But he wouldn’t dare say this in the national team’s locker room~ The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
This international break, Argentina is set to play a friendly match against Brazil in Buenos Aires.
In the pre-match locker room, Icardi pretended to be sorrowful and said to his elder brother Messi:
"Leo, I really feel bad for Sergio! How could he be fine during the derby but then flip over during training? He’s out for two months now, I really hope he recovers soon and we can thrash Brazil together!"
Messi heard this, and his eyes narrowed slightly, looking at Icardi.
He always felt these words sounded off, as if they weren’t very sincere.
Icardi’s reputation is well-known throughout the Argentine team.
Years ago, he snatched fellow Argentine Maxi Lopez’s wife, which caused an uproar in Argentina, with many international players backing the honest Lopez, saying they would boycott Icardi from joining the national team.
However, thanks to his outstanding performances last season and this season at Inter and Manchester United, with goal after goal, Icardi finally got selected for the national team;
After Agüero’s injury, he became the unshakeable starting main striker.
Messi and Agüero have a great relationship, both on and off the pitch.
But with his good buddy unable to play, Messi could only pin his hopes for the striker position on the 22-year-old Icardi.
"Mauro, my little brother, you have to do well. With Sergio injured, you have to courageously take on the responsibility in the striker position!"
As a result, Icardi exploded in this match!
He scored a hat-trick, helping Argentina defeat Brazil 3-0 at home, with all three assists from Messi.
On this day, the entire Pampas Grassland was singing and dancing, brightly lit up, as if it were a national celebration!
Before this friendly match against Brazil, in front of big brother Messi, Icardi seemed to cover up his true feelings about Agüero’s injury, like pretending to grieve for a fallen comrade;
But after scoring a hat-trick, Icardi didn’t bother to hide during the post-match domestic media frenzy!
"A hat-trick? It’s what I should do, you’ve seen my ability, I, Mauro, was born to score goals!"
"Starting striker for the national team? I have no intention of interfering with Martino’s lineup decisions, but a player who can score must certainly deserve a starting position in the national team. I have this ambition and I’ve put it into action!"
"My God! This is the third time you’ve asked me this question now!" Icardi seemed quite impatient.
"What I want to say is, there’s no one indispensable in the national team. I regret Sergio’s injury, but fortunately, I stepped up!"
"Messi assisted me three times? Haha, this may sound a bit arrogant, but the fact is when I’m on the pitch, his assists become even easier!"
"The two of us in the national team are a natural pair, complementing each other, Messi and I achieve success together!"
(Icardi coaching Messi on the Argentina national team)
A reporter from Sky Sports’ Argentina branch grabbed the microphone and asked a question about Manchester City.
"Mauro, with both Agüero and your former teammate Ranocchia injured, do you think this casts a shadow over Manchester City’s league title journey? Or is Manchester United’s chance now greater?"
The Sky Sports reporter was obviously setting a trap for Icardi~
But Icardi thought the trap was shallow, even if he jumped in, he could easily step out with just a lift of his leg.
"I am a player with a very rich professional experience, what I want to say is, the league is a marathon, and people who run fast in the first 10 kilometers are not necessarily the first to cross the finish line!"
"Compared to Manchester City, our Manchester United has a more abundant personnel reserve, so far, no one has suffered any major injuries. I think this is also an unforgettable advantage for our Manchester United on this season’s Premier League title journey!"
"Ranocchia said I stepped on his toe injury? Bullshit!"
Hearing this, Icardi, although a flash of panic crossed his heart, quickly covered up his guilty conscience with a high-pitched curse.
"Ranocchia was once my captain at Inter, I respect his character, if I met him on the streets of Manchester before, I might politely call him captain, but not anymore!"
"The schedule is clearly written, after the Manchester Derby, City also played the English League Cup, and then played against Norwich, it was only after these that Ranocchia got injured, and he still has the audacity to put this blame on me, Mauro? Show some face!"
"7:1? Haha, I knew you would ask that!"
Icardi’s face instantly flushed, his speed of speech began to accelerate, spitting everywhere, splashing the front row of journalists with spit.