Former Inter CEO Ernesto Paolillo has some major doubts as to whether or not the running of Inter by current club President Steven Zhang can be sustained for much longer on its current course.
Speaking to Italian news outlet TuttoMerecatoWeb, the former Nerazzurri executive identified the high current level of debt as a key factor that makes it doubtful that the current President can maintain control for much longer.
Whilst Suning and Zhang have remained in control through several rounds of the rumour mill that they could be forced to sell Inter, this has not stopped the continued emergence of more rumours about the future.
The fact that the Oaktree loan comes due in May of next year has been pointed to as potentially making it so that the current owners will have to sell the club.
As far as potential buyers for the club, there have been recent reports that both Bahrain-based fund InvestCorp could be looking to put together a consortium to bid on the Nerazzurri, whilst current Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani is reportedly also considering an offer.
None of these reports have yet reached a point where an offer is in front of Suning, and a lot could still depend on the decisions made by the current owners and by President Zhang.
However, from the perspective of former Nerazzurri executive Paolillo, things could be guided by structural factors that are larger than any individual decisions, with the high level of debt at the club in particular a factor.
“Considering the current level of debt at the club, I don’t know if Zhang’s current running of the club can be sustainable for much longer,” the former CEO said.
Regarding the rumours of a possible Italian takeover, the former CEO suggested that “It’s hard for me to see an Italian entrepreneur who would put up €1 billion to buy the club.
Then, Paolillo also gave his thoughts on the San Siro situation, stating that “It gives a bad impression of Italian bureacracy, and of our desire to relaunch football in this country.”
