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Why Man Utd have turned down Mauro Icardi transfer amid Romelu Lukaku situation
MANCHESTER UNITED have turned down the chance to sign Mauro Icardi at a time where Romelu Lukaku may join Inter Milan.
Man Utd target Mauro Icardi scores header against AC Milan
Manchester United have been linked with Icardi at a time where Inter Milan are desperate to get him off the books.
The Serie A giants have grown fed up of the Argentina international, who was stripped of the club’s captaincy last season.
Manchester United have been offered the forward amid Inter’s interest in Lukaku, who recently talked up manager Antonio Conte by saying: "With the transfer of [Cristiano] Ronaldo, I think the Italian league is now coming back.
“Antonio Conte going back to Inter Milan, which is really good because he is, to me, the best manager in the world.
"And then you have Maurizio Sarri going to Juventus and [Carlo] Ancelotti at Napoli. So I think Serie A will be really exciting next year and I'm really happy for Italian football."
Yet The Sun now report that United have rejected Icardi during this transfer window.
It is claimed that, previously, the Red Devils were open to taking the 26-year-old to the Premier League.
However, United have been deterred by the hitman’s troublesome reputation.
The player’s wife and agent Wanda Nara has done nothing to help, regularly criticising Inter for decisions regarding her husband and client.
And Icardi’s off-field problems have scuppered Inter’s chances of moving the striker to United this summer.
Inter are expected to sure-up interest in Lukaku imminently, with the player determined to leave United behind.
He was previously an untouchable of the Red Devils squad during the days Jose Mourinho occupied the dugout.
But Lukaku has fallen out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who prefers Marcus Rashford as his No 9.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez, meanwhile, believes now is the right time for Lukaku to leave the club.
"It is clear that he has to leave Manchester United," Martinez told Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws.
"It would be a good thing for both parties.
“It is now important that Romelu finds the right club."
Lukaku scored 15 goals for United across all competitions last season.
But he is yet to win any silverware since moving from Everton back in the summer of 2017.