Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said that Paris Saint-Germain star Mauro Icardi remains in the national team plans. The 27-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season with Les Parisiens on loan where he has bagged 20 goals from 31 appearances and he is expected to continue with the club next season after they agreed to sign him permanently from Inter Milan.

Speaking to reporters, Scaloni said that Icardi is under consideration for a national team spot despite not making an appearance since November 2018, he told: “Icardi is still in our plans. He knows very well how things are. I spoke to him on the phone at the time when he was in conflict with Inter. I explained that I was going to be left out because the others did play in their clubs. And after the Copa America (Lucas), Alario appeared. But Mauro (Icardi) is not ruled out. He is even at the right age to be a great scorer.”

Icardi has been a consistent goalscorer over the course of his career and he has hit double figures in terms of goals for the sixth season running. The 29-goal tally from the 2017/18 season with the Nerazzurri remains his best-ever return and he could surpass that figure for Les Parisiens during the current campaign.
Les Parisiens won’t feature in the French top-flight this season after the campaign was cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the team still have to play the finals of the Coupe de la Ligue and Coupe de France while they have qualified for the quarter-final stage of the Champions League.
The Champions League should remain the prime priority for the club and Icardi could have a key role to play alongside Kylian Mbappe upfront. The Argentine experienced a dip in form prior to the coronavirus shutdown in March but he will be hoping to redeem himself when the European campaign recommences.