Inter receive more than €120 million in sponsorship from China every year, according to La Repubblica.
The Nerazzurri are the only Italian club to still be controlled by Chinese investors, following the departure of Yonghong Li from rivals Milan and Jiang Lizhang’s decision to become a minority shareholder at Parma.
They are also one of a decreasing number of clubs in Europe to have Chinese owners, with Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers the next most high-profile example.
Inter therefore face less competition in the Chinese market than they did in previous years and are able to secure a vast array of sponsorship deals.
“China doesn’t have quite the same ambition to invest in football as it had in the past,” La Repubblica explained on Friday.
“This trend however has a glaring exception: Suning and Inter.
“China, via Hong Kong, will soon control 100% of the club when outgoing president Erick Thohir sells his 31% stake to LionRock Capital.”
Suning pay Inter €16.5 million each year as part of the naming rights agreement the consortium struck last year for Appiano Gentile, with add-ons taking the figure to €23 million in 2018.
Among the other sources of income are Beijing Imedia and Beijing Yixinshijie, who together provide Inter with another €50 million, along with investment company Fullshare Holdings, who pay €10 million.
The paper also stated Suning now consider Inter to be worth at €800 million, however they currently have no intention to sell the club.
