Inter Milan manager Luciano Spalletti has slammed absent striker Mauro Icardi for his "humiliating" behaviour over the past couple of months.
The Argentina international has not featured for Inter since being stripped of the captaincy in early February, missing their last 10 matches in all competitions.
Icardi lost the armband amid protracted talks over a new contract that have played out in public, with the 26-year-old supposedly refusing to commit to a new deal.
Inter initially put the player's absence down to a knee injury, but it has since become clear that he has fallen out with manager Spalletti, among others behind the scenes.
Spalletti has now cast further doubt over Icardi's future by questioning his professionalism.
"To have to negotiate with a player to get him to play and wear the Inter shirt is humiliating, for the fans and his teammates," he told reporters after his side's 1-0 home loss to Lazio on Sunday. "Do I have to email his lawyers before I can select him?
"Today, Mauro Icardi had to be left out because of the way he has behaved, it's only fair that the others play. It's a question of credibility. You must have respect and the right behaviour in the dressing room. The coach must be credible and recognised as someone who will do the right thing.
"How many defeats, worse than this one, have we had with Icardi on the pitch? Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo make a difference but there are very few like them. Professionalism and self-respect are everything. Discipline is everything."
Spalletti's comments came before Icardi's wife and agent Wanda Nara revealed that the rumoured Real Madrid target is ready to return to action.
Daniel Lewis
