Icardi debuts at a stadium he could have already conquered...

There was a time when Mauro Icardi threatened to be the undisputed number 9 at Barcelona. The 'Blaugrana' hierarchy was able to outmaneuver all competitors in the fight for the Argentine, who first pricked the ears of Europe's elite after a tournament in Arona in 2008. 

Barcelona signed him after he scored more than 500 goals for lowly Spanish side Vencindario, offering a staggering contract for a boy that would initially play for the clubs 'Cadete' age group.

Until 2013, Barcelona  held high hopes of maintaining a good link with the player. But it was not to be, as Icardi had been playing well consistently for the 'Cadete' age group, and but always saw his way to the senior side completely blocked. This led to his bitter departure in 2011.

"My exit was decided between myself and my agent because to play for Barça required different qualities to the characteristics I possess," the striker confessed a year later. He now plays for Inter Milan. 

The decision of Icardi is closely linked to the playing style of Guardiola, then first team coach, who insisted on implementing his tactics throughout the whole club.

He completely renounced the central number nine figure, Messi moved to be the 'false 9' and Icardi was essentially dispensed with. In fact, the striker lost his place in the reserve side in favor of playmaker Rafinha, a good friend over the years, who benefitted at his expense.

This turned out well for Icardi, who, after an injury, returned to Sampdoria for 4000,000  Euros. There he went straight into the head of the reserve team, and soon after, arrived his opportunity to step up to the first team, for whom he scored ten goals in the 2012-13 season.

The Italian media threw Icardi a rope, with which he pulled himself up to the top of Serie A; as the Argentine now captains Inter, who look like the cat that got the cream.

Five years later, Icardi is everything in the Giuseppe Meazza stadium. It has taken some time, upon many occasions he has found himself surrounded by controversy, which did nothing to endear the fierce Inter ultras to his cause.

However, the goals have managed to silence whatever bad reaction there had been towards him. In the last four seasons, Icardi has registered 27,16,26,29 goals respectively in Serie A .

He is only 25 years of age, has a promising future and an even closer upcoming target; score in the Camp Nou, in the stadium which, he could have and probably should have already conquered.