Inter fans will never recognise Mauro Icardi as their captain, they said yesterday, as the fallout from the Argentine forward’s controversial autobiography continued.

Inter said on Monday the 23-year-old would be sanctioned over comments in the book but would not be stripped of the captaincy.

But the Curva Nord hardcore supporters criticised the decision, posting a statement on their website, saying: “Icardi is not our captain, not now or ever.”

Icardi has been Inter’s top scorer for the past two campaigns and is again this season.

But he has upset some fans after an account in his book about a confrontation with one of the ultra leaders in 2015 in which he claimed the fan ordered a child to hand back the Argentine’s shirt after the player had given it to him.

The ultras say Icardi’s version of events is an invention.

On Sunday, he was greeted by several insulting banners at San Siro as he took to the pitch for Inter’s Serie A game against Cagliari, which they lost 2-1.

He also missed a penalty during the match – which the Inter fans applauded.

The fans said the incident would not affect their support for the rest of the team, who have slumped to 11th in Serie A.

“Inter need us,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, reports in the Italian media yesterday said Fabio Capello is the leading candidate to replace Frank de Boer if Inter sack the Dutchman.

De Boer, formerly of Ajax, took over from Roberto Mancini a couple of weeks before the Serie A got underway. He has now lost five of his first 10 games in all competitions.

Former Roma coach Rudi Garcia was also linked with Inter last week but Calcio News24 yesterday reported that the first name on club major shareholders Suning Group’s shortlist is Capello.

The former England, Milan, Juventus and Roma boss has been idle since leaving the Russian national team in July 2015.