Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has confirmed that Steven Zhang, the owner of the club’s parent company Suning Holdings, is with the Nerazzurri on the long run and is not pondering to part with the club ownership.
The chief executive drew light on a variety of topics in his exclusive interview with Corriere della Sera – including the club’s financial position, European Super League plans and the scheduling of fixtures by UEFA, FIFA and other confederations.
“Our condition is on a par with the other clubs and we are paying our salaries regularly. The financial contraction is linked to the lost revenue from Covid. Our shareholders in 5 years have put in €1 billion, ethically it is not sustainable. We came out of the tunnel.
There is stability, cash gives peace of mind. Zhang has passion. The president has repeatedly reiterated his long-term commitment to Inter,” said Marotta.
The European Super League project was put into play earlier this year but soon crumbled within 48 hours of its birth. The CEO however, believes that there needs to be a change in football – irrespective of a new elite league.
Speaking of it, he said: “A cry of alarm, of desperation, of some companies with a strong competitive objective. The organizational model must be revised. We could have acted better, but the end justifies the means.”
Finally he addressed the current playing schedules teams involved in Europe and abroad, emphasizing the fact that clubs are going to suffer as much as players when it comes to such proceedings.
“The Champions League will increase by 100 games in 2024. Fifa wants the World Cup every two years: but where is the protection of companies? If I give you a player for two months why do I have to pay him?,” he quizzed.
Inter suffered their worst financial year in 2020/21, ironically winning the Scudetto title for the first time since a decade.