Real Betis, who wants to challenge the Spanish Primera Liga (Lariga) to advance to the third round, has decided to bring in Mauro Icardi (31) of Galatasaray to increase his front line. However, difficulties are expected as Icardi is receiving high salary and Galatasaray opposes the transfer.

European soccer transfer market expert Ekrem Konur said on social media on Monday (Korea time) that Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini (71) wants to replace Cedric Bakambu (33) with Icardi. However, Galatasaray has no plan to release Icardi in January.
Real Betis is ranked ninth in La Liga and 15th in the UEFA Europa Conference League this season. Giovanni Lo Celso (28) is leading the team with eight goals, but other players failed to meet expectations in scoring. Vitor Hocky (19), who was hired on loan from Barcelona, scored six goals in official matches, including four in the league. 스포츠토토

Coach Pellegrini, who is in desperate need of strengthening his offense to leap to the top, took Icardi as a solution. Icardi collapsed in November during a UEFA Europa League match against Tottenham due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus damage. After surgery in Argentina, he is undergoing rehabilitation to return.

Real Betis decided to move after hearing that Icardi was interested in a transfer even though he was likely to be out of the season. Icardi's side showed interest in leaving Galatasaray and continuing their career in the new team. However, while Galatasaray opposes the transfer, Icardi's high salary is expected to be a drag.

"Icardi will listen to offers to take on new challenges. Real Betis is the first club to show interest in him," Spanish media Pichahes said on the 26th. "However, this operation will not be simple. Negotiations on transfer fees are needed, and Icardi's 10 million euros (about 15.3 billion won) annual salary puts a burden on Real Betis' finances." The media explained that if Icardi wants to move to Real Betis, he will have to lower his salary.

A former member of the Argentine national team, Icardi was once a huge striker representing Italy's Serie A league. Having played for Sampdoria and Inter, he became the top scorer twice in the 2014-15 and 2017-18 seasons, boosting his stock price. He emerged as a world-class striker by displaying outstanding off-the-ball movement and decisive power in the box. However, his career collapsed sharply as he was influenced by his then-wife Wanda Nara (38) of Argentina.

When Wanda, who was Icardi's agent, caused problems, such as bringing up the inside story of Inter's squad, Inter immediately kicked Icardi out. Later, Icardi moved to Paris Saint-Germain, but he did not play there for a long time. Eventually, he transferred to Galatasaray on loan in 2022, and made a full transfer a year later. Icardi, who is in his "second heyday" at Galatasaray, has scored 234 goals (64 assists) in his career so far.