Inter head coach Luciano Spalletti insists he has no regrets about his handling of the Mauro Icardi saga. Icardi will not be involved in Inter's Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan on Sunday, as a stand-off over his future and conflicting takes from club and player over his fitness continue. Inter are fourth – just a point and place behind their city rivals – but go into the clash having won just once in their last five games and off the back of a Europa League exit to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday. The ongoing Icardi soap opera continues to provide an unwelcome distraction for Spalletti but he is adamant that he would not have done anything differently. "If I go back in time, I lose more time," he told a media conference "I don't go back, I go on. Choices must be made at the moment and after you have taken them you have to stick with them." He then told the assembled journalists: "If you go back and rewrite your articles, it's a mess." Milan enter the game in contrastingly high spirits following a run of five consecutive wins in Serie A.  That recent upturn owes much to the prolific form of Krzysztof Piatek, who has scored six goals in as many league starts since joining from Genoa in January. Spalletti, however, says Inter will not be taking any specific measures to stop the Poland striker. "We usually defend against the whole team, never individually," he explained. "It is clear that we will also have to take into consideration the individual challenge, but it depends where he plays." When asked if his side can finish above their city rivals, Spalletti made it clear that is focus is squarely on securing a Champions League qualification spot. "They're a strong team as they're showing at this time, but our aim is to finish in the top four," he added.

Inter midfielder Radja Nainggolan has opened up on his departure from Roma, revealing that his poor relationship with now sacked sporting director Monchi would have led to a "world war". Nainggolan spent four years in the Italian capital, with consistent displays resulting in being selected for Serie A's team of the year in every campaign, as well as Roma's player of the season in 2017. Regardless of his continued high quality performances for the Giallorossi, the Belgian revealed that Monchi had gone behind his back and tried to sell him without his knowledge, something the 30-year-old took extremely hard. “I had a difference of opinion with the sporting director [Monchi],” Nainggolan told HLN. “He didn't behave professionally towards me – more proof that football is full of fakes. “If he had said to me, as a man: 'We want to sell you', I would have replied 'OK', but he had brokers trying to sell me in Turkey without my knowledge. “I realised I couldn't stay there – it was him or me. If I had stayed - with my personality - I'd have started a world war every day.” Nainggolan is currently sidelined with a torn calf muscle, an injury he picked up doing sprints in training and will miss the upcoming Milan derby as a result. And while many have called out Il Ninja for his alleged party-boy lifestyle as he enters the final years of his professional career, Nainggolan revealed that he has given up smoking in a bid to preserve his time at the peak of his game. “I used to play 50 games every year without injuries but now I seem to go from one to another,” he said. “It's frustrating. “I have to learn to deal with it. Small things can make big differences. I've lost weight and I've also stopped smoking. It's not easy, but I can do it.” AC Milan sit only one point ahead of Inter in third place, giving Sunday's derby clash in Serie A even more meaning as Inter push to finish the season with Champions League qualification.

AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek has admitted to being a boyhood Arsenal fan who “loved the style of Arsene Wenger” and idolised the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. Growing up in his native Poland, the prolific frontman harboured dreams of one day following in the footsteps of Premier League icons. His career path is yet to lead him to England, with his reputation currently being forged in Serie A. Piatek is, however, prepared to admit that he wanted to grace the red and white in north London rather than the Rossoneri of Milan when taking his first tentative steps towards the top of the game. The 23-year-old told Tuttosport during a Q&A session: “When I was a child I was an Arsenal fan. “I loved the style of Wenger and I admired players like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.” Piatek has become a star in his own right. He needed less than six months of a four-year contract at Genoa to earn himself a switch to San Siro in January. An impressive return of 19 goals in 21 appearances convinced Milan to make their move, and their faith has been rewarded with another eight efforts in nine outings. When the net is hit, Piatek has become synonymous with his gun-firing celebration and has earned the nickname ‘Il Pistolero’ in Italy. On that, he said: "My celebration? I did that after I scored a goal once and from that moment it remained the same. “It's a habit now and it brings good luck so I am not going to change it. “I see people go crazy for this celebration here in Italy. I loved Genoa. I had a good time there. I loved the sea, there was good weather and good cuisine.” Piatek left Genoa in a €35 million (£30m/$40m) deal. It is safe to assume that his price tag has risen again on the back of his early exploits with Milan. That could keep him out of Arsenal’s clutches in the future, unless the Gunners decide to dig deep at some stage in order to try and land a frontman who always wanted to follow in the footsteps of Henry and Bergkamp in north London.

AC Milan extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches and strengthened their Champions League qualification prospects with a 2-1 win at Chievo on Saturday. Lucas Biglia marked his first Serie A start since October with a brilliant first-half free-kick before the prolific Krzysztof Piatek struck the winner after the interval. Perparim Hetemaj broke Chievo's month-long goal drought in between those strikes but the top-flight strugglers were unable to deny the Rossoneri a four-point lead over fourth-placed Inter ahead of next weekend's Derby della Madonnina. Gennaro Gattuso's dismissal from the touchline proved the only other setback for the visitors, his side now sitting a comfortable seven points inside the top four. Milan got on top early and opened the scoring in supreme style in the 31st minute, midfielder Biglia curling an excellent free-kick into the top-left corner. It was not all plain sailing, though, with Gattuso sent to the stands after taking issue with a tackle on Lucas Paqueta. His mood would only have worsened when Hetemaj headed Chievo level from Mehdi Leris' cross four minutes before half-time. Nerves creeped into Milan's play and they needed Gianluigi Donnarumma to prevent Hetemaj's left-sided delivery from creeping inside the right post. Piatek eased the concern in the 57th minute, albeit in slightly controversial circumstances. Samu Castillejo's header fell kindly for the striker to poke home the decisive goal following a goalmouth scramble, during which he looked to have made contact with a defender while attempting an overhead kick. Franck Kessie and Alessio Romagnoli might have extended the margin later in proceedings, but Milan did enough to wrap up the victory.   What does it mean? Milan continue Champions League charge This looks increasingly like the season that the Rossoneri finally seal their return to Europe's top table. Milan are ensconced inside the top four with 11 matches to play and enter the Milan derby with welcome optimism, in contrast to the dread of recent seasons. Biglia back with a bang He dictated play from the middle of the pitch, but Biglia's most memorable contribution to the match was undoubtedly that stunning free-kick, his first goal since February 2018. The Argentine certainly looks to be over the calf injury that has restricted his involvement until now. Wayward Kessie must find shooting boots Milan's task would have been much easier had Kessie converted either of his two good opportunities. He prodded one wide from inside the box with the deadlock yet to be broken and scuffed another in the second half, when the away side were seeking to make the points safe. Key Opta Facts - AC Milan have won five Serie A games in a row for the first time since March 2018. - Chievo have lost four of their last five Serie A games (D1), scoring only one goal and conceding nine. - Milan have won all their last six games against Chievo in Serie A, but conceding at least a goal in each of these matches. - Milan's Krzysztof Piatek has scored in seven of the 10 stadiums where he has played in Serie A. - Piatek has found the net in each of his three away games in Serie A for Milan (v Roma, Atalanta and Chievo). What's next? Milan take on city rivals Inter in the Derby della Madonnina next Sunday, while Chievo's next assignment is a trip to Atalanta.

The Mauro Icardi saga may be approaching an end with the Argentine striker possibly in line for a return for Inter against rivals AC Milan this month. Goal can confirm on Friday there was a new meeting between Inter CEO Beppe Marotta and the entourage of the player, represented by the lawyer Paolo Nicoletti. Those followed a meeting on Wednesday which saw Marotta meet with Icardi and his wife Wanda Nara, who also serves as the striker's agent.  According to the first reports that emerged, there is not yet a definitive date for the player's return to the team. Even in the past few hours, Icardi has trained separately from the team. However, the situation is improving and there is optimism for a positive end of the story. Goal can also confirm the return of the Nerazzurri striker is getting closer. At the moment, the goal is to return the relationship between Icardi and the club to normal in order to manage the rest of the season calmly. And that may well happen in short order and Icardi could be available for Luciano Spalletti as soon as the derby against Milan on March 17. It has been a month filled with conflict between Icardi and the club, as the striker has not featured since February 9. The club have insisted Icardi is dealing with an injury, but stripped the striker of his captaincy and given varying statements on the matter as reports have swirled over his possible exit. Icardi himself at one point took to Instagram to defend himself against charges he did not care about the club’s future, recounting his many sacrifices for Inter. While Inter reeled off three straight victories without Icardi, the club are winless in their last three, including two matches in Serie A which have put their Champions Leagues hopes in some jeopardy. A 2-1 defeat to Cagliari last weekend not only saw Inter fall to fourth in the table, but also saw them passed by their rivals as Milan moved into third place by a point. But before Inter can look to take down their rivals in a few weeks, they must first deal with a couple of matches, including a European tie. Inter will host SPAL this weekend before a midweek Europa League fixture at San Siro against Eintracht Frankfurt, with the tie hanging in the balance at 0-0.