Inter have no margin for error when they visit Fiorentina for their next Serie A game tomorrow, according to the Nerazzurri’s former chief executive Ernesto Paolillo.
Antonio Conte’s side are two points behind league leaders AC Milan as they prepare for matchday 21, having kept up the pressure last weekend with a 4-0 win at home to Benevento.
But the Nerazzurri will need to produce a statement performance at the Stadio Artemio Franchi to put Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to Juventus in the Coppa Italia behind them.
“Inter have to win that match at every cost because the league is now their only objective left this season,” Paolillo told Radio Bruno Toscana, dismissing his former club’s chances of a comeback in next week’s second leg against the Bianconeri at the Allianz Stadium.
“They can’t afford to slip up, even though Fiorentina are not an easy team to beat.”
Paolillo was also asked to comment on Inter’s ongoing ownership saga, with reports suggesting Suning are looking to either sell shares in the club or leave Inter altogether.
BC Partners were thought until last weekend to be in pole position to purchase a stake in the Nerazzurri, but their talks with the Chinese retail giant seem to have broken down, opening the door for numerous other private equity funds such as EQT, Arctos Sports Partners and Ares Management.
“Football is business now, you need huge capital resources,” he explained.
“It’s impossible for family companies to keep pace in the modern game, so it’s normal you get lots of funds coming in to invest.
“The problem in football today is that with the current regulations nobody can make any profits, all clubs are recording losses.
“A family like Massimo Moratti’s could own the club for a few years, but then…”
