INTER Milan are approaching a crisis situation ahead of Saints’ Europa League visit to the San Siro this week.

The legendary Italian club were beaten at home by Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday - at the same time Saints were beating Burnley at St Mary’s.

Inter have now lost three successive games in all competitions and storm clouds are already gathering over the head of manager Frank de Boer, writes SIMON CARTER.

In addition, star striker and captain Mauro Icardi was booed by a section of the Inter fans, who paraded banners criticising him for comments made in his recently-published autobiography.

The same fans cheered when Icardi missed a first half penalty prior to a late own goal condemning Inter to a defeat which leaves them down in 11th place and already 10 points adrift of leaders and defending champions Juventus.

Inter goalkeeper Sami Handanovic inadvertently forced the ball over his own goalline in the 85th minute to seal victory for the visitors after Cagliari striker Federico Melchiorri had cancelled out Joao Mario’s 55th-minute opener.

De Boer has lost exactly half of his 10 domestic and European matches in charge of Inter since replacing Roberto Mancini in August.

In addition to three Serie A defeats in eight games, Inter are also rooted to the bottom of their Europa League group after losing to Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the San Siro and at Sparta Prague.

Fielding a much changed starting XI, Inter lost 2-0 to Hapoel and followed that up by crashing 3-1 to a Sparta side who had previously been thrashed 3-0 at St Mary’s.

De Boer now faces the dilemma of whether to keep faith with Icardi up front for Saints’ visit, or start with him on the bench - as he has done for both of Inter’s Europa League losses so far.

Some Inter fans have certainly lost faith in Icardi, who criticised one of the club’s Ultras in his book for taking a shirt off a young fan after the player had given it to him following a defeat at Sassuolo.

Icardi was one of several Inter players who threw their shirts into the crowd, only to see them thrown back as the travelling Nerazzurri support displayed their anger at the performance.

In his book, Icardi criticises the Ultra, accusing him of acting “all arrogant.”

Fans in the Curva Nord - the section of the San Siro containing the most passionater Inter supporters - were instantly incensed.

The released a statement, telling Icardi: “You are finished with us. You’re done. TAKE THE ARMBAND OFF, YOU CLOWN. Yes, that is what we demand.”

Sunday’s game against Cagliari was the first at the San Siro since Icardi’s book was published.