Inter Milan have been going through a lot of problems off the field. It has certainly not helped new manager Frank de Boer.

The results since the former Ajax manager came to the club have been so bad that his future is already under speculation even before Christmas. Inter Milan were expected to challenge for the top three places, which would have been enough to at least get into the Champions League. The club, though, finds itself in the 11th place after having taken a similar number of points from the opening eight matches. It is one of the worst possible starts to a league campaign.

One of the few bright moments has been the form of striker Mauro Icardi. The 23-year-old has been in sensational form, but he has been a major factor in the off the field issues. There is no doubt that off the field issues have played a role in the club’s poor form. Italy manager Giampiero Ventura thinks that most of the problems have been caused by Mauro Icardi and no other. At just 23, he is clearly one of the best strikers in world football. In his recent autobiography, he criticised a core section of the Inter support and it has not gone well with the fans.

Icardi has been publicly criticised by supporters.”It’s a difficult time for everyone. Icardi has put himself in this position. De Boer is less culpable, he was only called in this season and it’s not easy for a foreign Coach.He does not speak Italian, and does not know Serie A very well, he needs time to understand at least where happened and what to do in Italy. Balotelli? He is a player of enormous quality that is held back by the way that he is, and it does not put him in a position to give his best,” said Ventura about Inter Milan and Balotelli.