A bid to buy out Inter from Suning by a Qatari fund, and supported by ex-Nerazzurri player Roberto Carlos, was turned down by President Steven Zhang, according to Italian media.
As reported in today’s newspaper edition of Tuttosport, former Brazilian international left-back Roberto Carlos was an intermediary and vocal backer of an approach from a Doha-based fund that had hoped to complete a takeover of Inter this year.
Amidst mounting financial difficulties, Chinese retail conglomerate Suning had been looking for investment in the club since January, attracting widespread interest before settling on a €275 million loan from US fund Oaktree Capital earlier this month.
Despite Roberto Carlos’ intervention, the Qatari fund were unable to strike a deal as Zhang was unwilling to completely sell the club, preferring instead to find a minority investor or a loan.
Zhang had also rebuffed an approach from London-based BC Partners for similar reasons, as he felt they did not meet his asking price whilst also denying him the chance to remain at the helm.
Roberto Carlos joined Inter from Palmeiras in 1995 but he was sold to Real Madrid after just a single season at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
