Erick Thohir is unlikely to step down as Inter President in the immediate future, according to Tuttosport.
American news agency Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that the Malaysian tycoon was close to agreeing a deal worth $500 million with billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong to sell his majority stake (78%) at DC United, having acted as the club’s general partner since 2012.
However there are no imminent plans for Thohir to relinquish his 31% stake in the Nerazzurri, even though he appears ever less involved in the day-to-day running of the club.
“Thohir’s departure from DC United points towards a gradual departure from all football-related activity on his behalf”, Tuttosport write. “His visits to Milan are becoming ever more rare and his involvement with Inter is decreasing all the time.”
“However the noises that come from the club are that he is not planning to leave the scene in the immediate future. A lot will depend on the shareholders agreements that Thohir has signed with Zhang Jindong, the content of which is not known to the public.”
The publication state that Thohir could be due a bonus should Inter qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, and that this could be one of the reasons he is unwilling to sell up for the moment.
Majority shareholders Suning currently hold a 68.55% stake in the club and could speed the process up should they wish to take 100% control of Inter, but at the moment they do not have such an intention.
