Suning are not interested in letting a supporters group buy into Inter, according to a leading member of InterSpac.
The Nerazzurri’s owners are looking around for financial partners who can inject capital into the club and help solve Inter’s worsening financial predicament.
However, supporters consortium InterSpac – a group of well-known Inter fans led by Italy’s former interim Prime Minister Carlo Cottarelli – appear to have no chance of becoming minority shareholders.
In an interview for Friday’s print edition of La Repubblica, Roberto Zaccaria said: “There have been no openings from the current ownership and for this reason we have not structured a proposal.
“In all likelihood, Inter will pass into the hands of someone who already has money ready to invest, so a private equity fund.
“Of course, it is possible that Steven Zhang maintains control, at least temporarily, but some of the money would still come from a fund.
“The era of brave owners in football is over.
“We are facing new economic dimensions.
“We need very important forces like America’s investment groups, or the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) that we’re hearing about.”
Zaccaria, a politician who spent 12 years serving in Italy’s Chamber of Deputies, was asked for an update on the current state of InterSpac, a group whose name has been appearing in the Italian media for several years.
“We’re in contact with one another as shareholders on an almost daily basis,” he explained.
“Ours is a medium-term project aimed at strengthening Inter’s capital.
“As I said, we are not involved in the operation that seems to be in progress.”
He was asked how important it was to preserve Inter’s Italian identity, following the departure of Massimo Moratti as owner and president back in 2013.
A report from Calcio e Finanza last night revealed there were no Italian companies interested in buying into Inter.
“Whoever is the owner of Inter, I would like the Italian spirit of the club to be preserved,” Zaccaria admitted.
“It is important in the key roles.
“Just think of the importance in the project of Beppe Marotta and Alessandro Antonello.
“It is nice to see Lele Oriali close to Antonio Conte too.
“Javier Zanetti, whom I consider to be Italian, is a real icon.
“It would be nice to see Moratti and Marco Tronchetti Provera recognised in future with a role too, having both given so much to the club’s history.”
Suning are reportedly looking to sell the club and have received one offer for the majority of the club from British private equity fund BC Partners.
The Chinese company, who have owned Inter since 2016, have also seemingly received a hybrid offer from Fortress which comes in the shape of loans.
Bain Capital have also been linked with potential investment as have PIF, as mentioned by Zaccaria.