Revealed – Suning Can Only Wait For FIFA Club World Cup To Sell Inter Milan On One Condition

Suning can only wait for the Club World Cup in 2025 to sell Inter Milan if they can find a way to refinance the club’s debt.

This according to Italian football finance news outlet Calcio e Finanza.

The rumours around Inter owners Suning potentially selling the Nerazzurri have been persistent for several years now.

To date, the Chinese company have held onto control of Inter.

But there have been no shortage of rumours of interest in the club. Among the reportedly interested parties are Bahrain-based fund InvestCorp, and Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus.

Moreover, reports suggest that Suning have had US banks Goldman Sachs and the Raine Group scanning the market for interest, either in potential minority investment, or in an outright purchase.

A key reason why Suning have not sold Inter is that no interested parties have made a bid that meets the owners’ valuation.

Suning reportedly want in excess of €1 billion.

Considering that Elliott Management sold AC Milan to RedBird Capital for around €1.2 million, that is reportedly Suning’s benchmark.

And there are plenty of reasons why that amount may not be far from the mark. There is little doubt that the Nerazzurri is an asset with enormous revenue potential, particularly if a new stadium is built.

But the club’s high debt exposure – with more than €50 million a year currently being paid in interest – has been enough to dissuade interested parties in making an offer close to what Suning want.

Suning Can Only Wait For Club World Cup To Sell Inter On One Condition

One thing that could change the picture would be Inter’s qualification for the FIFA Clup World Cup in 2025.

The tournament, held in the US, will have a much larger scale than the existing format.

The potential for greatly increased revenues is high. And whilst Inter have yet to formally qualify, it looks exceedingly likely that they will do so.

Naturally, for Suning, there would be an eagerness to see what effect the Club World Cup has on the club’s position.

The revenues from participation could help ease Inter’s financial troubles.

And, if Suning were to sell after that point, they could potentially collect a significantly higher fee.

It is hardly surprising that the Nerazzurri owners won’t be in too much of a hurry to sell then. Not when they could potentially do so after 2025 at a higher fee.

But the big issue remains Suning paying back the massive loan to US-based fund Oaktree Capital.

There is virtually no chance of actually paying it back by May 2024 when it is due.

However, Suning could also refinance it.

But if Suning are unable to agree new terms with Oaktree, then their options are clear. They can either find a buyer before the due date, or watch control of Inter pass into the hands of Oaktree.