Inter captain Mauro Icardi reiterated his happiness at the club as the former Barcelona youth product prepares to return to Camp Nou.
Icardi s future has dominated headlines amid links with Champions League holders Real Madrid, Premier League giants Chelsea and ex-team Barca.
The 25-year-old forward is out of contract in 2021, a deal which reportedly includes a €110million release clause for foreign clubs.
However, Icardi said he is settled when speaking ahead of Wednesday s Champions League clash in Barcelona, where the Argentina international spent three years before joining Sampdoria in 2011.
As I have said so many times, I am very well in Milano, I feel very good at Inter, my family is very good in Milano and right now I don t have any intention to leave, Icardi said in a news conference.
I had [a] few offers last summer but right now I don t feel the need or the desire to leave Milano.
Playing for Barcelona s academy was a very important time for me and my career, as I learned a great deal here. I started my career here and facing them as a player in the Champions League is undoubtedly special and exciting.
However, when I had the chance to come to Italy with Sampdoria, I didn t need to think twice. It was the right decision for me and my representatives.
: We always prepare for our matches in the same way. We know how difficult it is to play here but we also know the potential of this group.
— Inter (@Inter_en)
Inter will face a Barca team missing talismanic captain and five-time Ballon d Or winner Lionel Messi.
Messi suffered a fractured arm in last week s 4-2 victory over Sevilla in LaLiga but Inter head coach Luciano Spalletti insists the Spanish champions remain a difficult opponent even without the club s all-time leading scorer.
It s clear that those players that will have to replace Messi will want to show all their qualities Messi is a different type of player, Spalletti said.
Because Messi is one of those players that even when you think you have seen everything in football he s able to perform in a way that shows you something new and unique. He s always able to create a bit of confusion in the opponents defence.
Barcelona remain though [even without Messi] a team that does not need to run behind the ball. A team that have so many qualities if they are in control of the game to find [a] solution to beat any opponent.
That s why I think our task, it won t be how to close space for one or another player, but to be capable to have the control of the game. I know it may sound weird when you face Barcelona in their stadium but if we want to have a chance [to win] we need to hold the ball longer than them.
