Internazionale captain Mauro Icardi's fractured relationship with the club's most passionate fans hit an all-time low when the Argentine was cheered after missing a penalty in his club's 2-1 loss to Cagliari. 

In his recently released autobiography, Icardi claimed that he became "a hero" to his teammates after confronting an ultra leader in the wake of a 3-1 defeat to Sassuolo last season.

'As I get closer, I receive insults and abuse of every kind. Attached to the netting is a kid who calls me: he wants my shirt," Icardi recalled of scenes after the Sassuolo match. "Considering his age, he could be my son: I take off my shirt and shorts and throw them to him, as a gift. This kid is in seventh heaven and I am pleased to see him so happy.

"A head of the ultras jumps on him to take away the shirt and throws it back at me. This is when I start insulting him: 'Piece of s***, you are acting all arrogant with a little kid to show off to the rest of the curva? Do you think you're hard?'

"In the locker room I am acclaimed as a hero, because nobody had ever faced off that way with one of the fan leaders."

The ultras responded during the Cagliari match by unfurling a banner that read: "You use a child to justify yourself and fling mud at us... You're not a man... You're not a Captain... You are just a vile piece of s***,"

icardi was then roundly cheered as he fluffed his lines from the penalty spot.

Joao Mario's first Inter goal had appeared to cancel out that miss 10 minutes after the interval, with Handanovic also on fine form at the other end.

However, it was not to be for De Boer's out-of-sorts side, who were pegged back in the 71st minute - Federico Melchiorri tucking in from close-range - before Handanovic bundled the ball into his own net in the closing stages.

The victory lifts Cagliari above Inter in the Serie A standings, having condemned the Nerazzurri to a third league defeat of the season.

In a first-half dominated by Inter, it was Cagliari - beaten in all three of its away league fixtures prior to the clash - that went close early on, Luca Ceppitelli heading just wide.

Icardi could have silenced his doubters moments later, but an expertly-timed interception from the experienced Bruno Alves prevented the Argentine connecting with Ivan Perisic's pinpoint cross.

After Antonio Candreva had shanked a volley wide, De Boer's side were gifted an opportunity to take the lead 25 minutes in, Icardi winning a penalty, albeit a soft one, after a reckless foul from Alves.

However, though the 23 year-old stepped up to take the spot-kick, he could only drill a low strike well wide of the right-hand upright.

Handanovic came to Inter's rescue with a stunning double-save soon after the restart, denying Melchiorri before parrying away Marco Sau's follow-up effort.

Fabio Pisacane was on hand to thump in the rebound, but the Cagliari defender was correctly flagged offside.

Those saves proved decisive as, from the resulting counter, Perisic teed up Joao Mario, who despite seeing his initial strike saved, managed to smuggle the rebound home from point-blank range.

Cagliari looked for an immediate response, and would have had it if not for another superb Handanovic stop, who somehow kept out Davide Di Gennaro's venomous volley.

Icardi was the villain again for the host shortly after, somehow heading wide despite being unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

Cagliari duly made Inter pay, Di Gennaro's pass deflecting through to Melchiorri, who made no mistake with his finish.

It got worse for the host with five minutes remaining, Melchiorri - having failed to hit the target with a close-range header moments earlier - drilling in a cross that Handanovic could only spill over his line as Inter's winless streak in the league stretched to three matches.