Suning are at a crossroads at Inter Milan, as the Nerazzurri owners must address their future by the end of next month.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInter1908. The Gazzetta report that, one way or another, there will likely be a decision involving a US-based fund.

By now, the situation regarding Suning’s future at Inter is not a secret.

The Nerazzurri owners face a crossroads, with May the decisive months for them to either stay on or be forced out.

The €275 million payment in kind loan that Suning took on from US-based fund Oaktree nearly three years ago comes due then.

With interest (there has been a 12% annual interest rate), the Inter owners will owe Oaktree nearly €400 million.

There’s no doubt that Suning will not be able to pay Oaktree back in full.

So there are three options. One is for Suning to sell Inter before then – increasingly unlikely as the days and weeks pass. Another would be to refinance the loan – Suning’s preference.

And then, if Suning do not do either of those two things in the next four months, control of Inter would pass into the hands of Oaktree.

A recent report revealed that Oaktree would have to reimburse Suning in the event that they take control of the Nerazzurri.

The amount would likely be between €150 million and 300 million.

If the loan does come due and the owners default, Suning will lose control of Inter, but not without at least some measure of financial compensation per the terms of the loan.

Suning To Make Decision On Inter Future By End Of February

It has always looked perfectly clear that Suning would have to make a decision well before May.

The Nerazzurri owners cannot simply scramble to make a decision at the last possible moment.

But the question of exactly when they would do so has remained up in the air.

According to the Gazzetta, though, it will be February. The Nerazzurri owners cannot delay any longer than that.

And one way or another, the newspaper notes, Suning will have to come to an agreement with a US-based fund in one way or another.

This could be an agreement to sell Inter.

Or, it could be an agreement on refinancing the debt to Oaktree.