Inter President Steven Zhang is ready to offer the Nerazzurri squad a big cash bonus as an additional incentive to reach the Champions League final.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that the Nerazzurri President would be ready to put forward a cash bonus for the players worth €2 million in total as he had done in previous knockout rounds of the competition.
Next month, Inter will face off against city rivals AC Milan for a place in the biggest match in European club competition, against one of Real Madrid or Manchester City.
Given what such an achievement would represent for the team on all levels, Zhang is prepared to offer a special incentive to the players if they are to book their place in the final in Istanbul by beating the Rossoneri over two legs.
According to the Gazzetta, the cash bonus on offer would be for €2 million in total to be disbursed among the players, a chunk of what would be earned in prize money from participation in the final.
This same amount had already been given to the squad for progressing from each of their round of sixteen tie against Porto and their quarterfinal tie against Benfica.
There had also been some rumours that the Nerazzurri’s squad could be offered similar bonuses if they are to finish in the top four in the Serie A table, given the importance of this objective and the fact that it no longer looks certain, although the club denied this firmly.
In any event, the Gazzetta report that apart from offering the special bonuses to the squad if they are to reach the Champions League final, Zhang has reiterated that the priority is still top four in Serie A.
Whilst a Champions League final would be an unexpected triumph that would warrant a special bonus, the President has stressed to the squad that a top four spot is absolutely vital.