Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 8y

Inter Milan want Samir Handanovic and Mauro Icardi to focus on football

Inter Milan vice-president Javier Zanetti has told Samir Handanovic and Mauro Icardi to focus on playing football.

Icardi's future has been the subject of regular speculation this summer, with wife and agent Wanda Nara having linked him with a number of clubs.

Goalkeeper Handanovic, meanwhile, attributed Inter's defeat to Chievo on the opening day of the Serie A season to the fact that they spent much of July on a preseason tour of the U.S.

Icardi -- who has said he wants to stay at Inter and sign a new contract -- "should just think about being a footballer and being our captain," Zanetti said.

He told Mediaset: "We've clarified a long time ago now that Mauro is not for sale.

"Then we've had all these games being played via the media, which Inter do not want to get involved in because that is not the way we work.

"The time will come when we talk with Icardi and his advisers, but we decide when that will happen. Now he should just think about being a footballer and being our captain."

He also hit out at Handanovic's comments, saying: "Many teams went on summer tours and I don't think this is the reason [for losing to Chievo].

"Handanovic should just think about training and playing.

"We shouldn't look for excuses. We need to respond, and we need to show how much we have grown when we face Palermo this coming Sunday.

"I believe this squad has everything it takes to prove they can do well."

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