Inter fans shouldn’t expect big-money signings in the upcoming summer transfer window, a leading Italian journalist has warned.
The Nerazzurri could become Serie A champions on Sunday for the first time since 2010, if they win at Crotone tomorrow and Atalanta fail to beat Sassuolo.
Antonio Conte’s side are likely to need reinforcements if they are to become competitive in the UEFA Champions League, but it doesn’t look as if there will be much of a budget in the summer.
“It’s unlikely that Steven Zhang will be likely to promise Conte anything other than a self-financed transfer campaign,” Luigi Garlando wrote in a column for Thursday’s print edition of Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Inter can sign players if they sell others first.”
Zhang is back in Milan after a six-month absence and is already hard at work to solve Inter’s various off-pitch issues.
It looks as if he has secured a €250 million loan from Bain Capital, which will at least cover the club’s costs until the end of the season.
“Steven hasn’t returned with loads of money in his suitcase,” Garlando explained.
“Inter’s loan was secured by pledging Suning’s stake in the club as part of the deal.
“Nobody can say what Inter’s future will be like tomorrow, nobody can exclude that the club could be sold to a fund like AC Milan were.
“But in the meantime, Zhang has landed back in Milan and deserves to celebrate the Serie A title.”
Garlando also offered his thoughts on the Inter side which was on the verge of winning the scudetto under Conte.
“Zhang would have the full support of Inter’s founding members, who created the club after AC Milan refused to tolerate foreign players,” he added.
“Suning are about to become the first foreign owners to win the Serie A title, with a Chinese president and nine non-Italians among Inter’s starting XI.
“Inter’s 19th scudetto will be a tribute to their overseas origins.”
