By Tim Stannard

Icardi's fallout with Inter's bosses could see summer move to La Liga 

As heard on Wednesday's wonderful edition of the Sports Burst live show, a certain Inter striker is potentially set for a spell with the reserves for the Serie A side. Yep, it could be 'Icardi B' for the rest of the season with the long-running saga over a contract renewal now growing intolerable for Inter's bosses.  

In quite the few days for Icardi, the footballer had the club captaincy removed and withdrew from the squad for today's Europa League game against Rapid Wien in protest. "We've been embarrassed," admitted an irked Inter boss, Luciano Spalletti. 

Italian media reports that Icardi arrived for training today but sat out the session due to a conveniently-timed ankle injury which could see him out of action for Inter's home clash against Sampdoria. 

What appears to be a furious fallout between Icardi and Inter over the forward's future will have alerted two clubs both coveting a new striker - Real Madrid, a longstanding admirer and Barcelona, the team Icardi used to play for back in the day. 

Tune in to our Sports Burst live show at 12PM ET / 9AM PT to see which team would be the best fit for Icardi. 

Chelsea looks to end Sarri run of form with win in Europe 

The Europa League is now getting to the exciting stage. No really. 

It couldn't be any more tense as the shortlist to win the best sixth-placed finishing team in Europe continues. Relegation zone-dwelling Villarreal is at Sporting CP. We've got Genk! Krasnodar!

But the stand-out match, not in terms of the football, but the sauce is Malmo hosting Chelsea. Maurizio Sarri is currently occupying the 'about to be sacked' void, which must always be filled. 

The Italian is feeling the heat after a 6-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League and the perception that Sarri does not have the tightest of grips on the Stamford Bridge reins. 

"It's always a mind problem, a mental problem," admitted Sarri on the team's fragility in a clash where Chelsea should prevail, considering Malmo is in an off-season phase in the Swedish league and has not played a competitive match since November. 

Julen Lopetegui laments lack of time with Real Madrid 

Julen Lopetegui...remember him? The man of 2018, sacked by Spain days before the World Cup, hired by Real Madrid...sacked by Real Madrid.

Anyway, the Spanish coach has been talking to the BBC about a topsy turvy six months to say the least starting with the sudden dismissal by the Spanish national team when the news broke that he would be taking over the Real Madrid job once the World Cup was over. "It was very unfair," claimed Lopetegui on the move. 

What seemed like moments later, an emotional Lopetegui was being presented as Real Madrid manager with his head still spinning - "one day I was in Russia training for the World Cup, the next I was in the Santiago Bernabeu with a new team." 

Despite a strong start, the former Real Madrid man was ditched after a poor run of form in La Liga that ended with a 5-1 defeat to Barcelona. "I didn't have time, that's the best way to explain it," admitted Lopetegui who said that he wished the best of luck to Santiago Solari and the Madrid players. 

Sao Paolo shocked by Copa Libertadores exit 

The first big shock of the Copa Libertadores season took place on Wednesday night with Sao Paolo failing to make it past the second qualifying round with an aggregate defeat to Talleres de Cordoba. 

Quite the blow for the three times winners who could only manage a goalless draw in face of a 2-0 deficit from the first leg. 

Another of the big-hitters of the South American game, Atletico Nactional, will be looking to avoid the same fate but at least hold the upper hand in a tie against Deportivo La Guaira, taking a 1-0 lead into the match-up in Colombia. 

That game is live on beIN SPORTS CONNECT and ESPANOL from 6.30PM ET / 3.30PM PT. Check our TV guide for a full day of Copa Sudamericana action too.