Video message from the Nerazzurri president from China delivered to the team and fans after winning the second star
Of Antonio Martelli,
April 23, 2024
“Wow, 20. What a number! 20 Scudetti. 116 years and now we are finally here. Today is a special day, a historic day for the entire Great Nerazzurri Family. The day in which our hearts are full of joy because Inter has reached a goal that only few can aspire to. Today all Inter fans around the world are celebrating the conquest of the Second Star, an incredible sign that we have made history together.” Thus the president of Inter Steven Zhang in a video message from China delivered to the team and fans after winning his second Scudetto.
“We have faced countless challenges, between successes and moments of difficulty, until we achieved the greatest glory, which repays us for all our efforts. Our goal has always been the same, to return to the top in Italy and Europe. Together we nailed it. And today we celebrate the twentieth championship in our history, the second star that we will wear on our chest from now on,” he added.
“A victory resulting from the work of management and staff of the highest level even off the pitch. I would therefore like to thank my managers, all the women and men of the Club, without them this success would never have been achieved”, said Zhang. “My biggest thanks go to our warriors fighting on the field. To our great Mister, Simone Inzaghi, and all his staff – he continued – thank you Simone. As I have said many times, you are a gift to me during my Presidency. You are a coach, an exceptional person, who shaped our team with a winning mentality. You conveyed confidence and serenity and created this great group.”
“I also want to thank my players: you are my pride and the driving force of Inter. You are a group of champions made up of authentic values. Our extraordinary fans, who sing the most beautiful chorus with me: ‘for all those kilometers I did for you!…’ This is the song that excites me the most and that you will soon make resound together at San Siro”, he said . “This is the eighth year of our ownership in this wonderful Club. We have experienced two European finals together, 7 trophies, we have been the best in Italy twice. We have made our Inter grow, together, we have reached unimaginable heights, on and off the pitch. Let us continue this wonderful journey, so that our reality is as glorious as our dreams,” concluded Zhang.
Uncertain future, continuous search for financiers so as not to lose the club
But where is Zhang? On the day when Inter deservedly celebrates the second star’s Scudetto (1 forfeit) a glaring absence cannot fail to make noise: President Steven Zhang. The scion of the Suning family has been missing from Italy for almost a year now (practically since the Champions League final lost in Istanbul) and for weeks the most disparate rumors have been circulating about where he ended up and why not even on such a special occasion as the celebration for the Scudetto, returned to Milan to be close to the team and the club. For several months the CEO Beppe Marotta, clearly embarrassed, hastily replied that he has had “daily contacts” with Zhang from China and the club itself made it known during the last Board of Directors meeting that the president was connected. To try to dispel all these doubts and rumors, the Nerazzurri patron finally reappeared over the weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Guest of F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, Zhang was intercepted by Sky’s microphones where he denied all the rumors of a possible sale of the club. “They are false. For the past 7 years, there have been rumors every day. We have won 6 trophies and the fact that we are close to the seventh trophy, the second star for the club, is something that adds so much to Inter’s legacy. As long as I am president I can say that we will continue to fight and win,” he declared. “I must say that this year I am very proud of all the members of the team and as president I couldn’t be more satisfied – he added – We know what we want, the winning mentality has never been higher”.
The fact remains that for Zhang Jr. it is not a particularly easy moment both from a corporate and personal point of view. On May 20, the Inter president must repay a loan of 320 million euros (plus interest) to the American fund Oaktree. For months Zhang Jr. has been negotiating with the fund for a renewal of the loan, but the conditions posed by the Americans are not convincing. For this reason, at the same time, he is apparently carrying out secret negotiations with new investors. In theory, if Zhang is unable to repay the loan, Inter could pass directly into the hands of Oaktree as happened to Milan with Elliot who took over the club from the insolvent Mr. Li. In recent weeks there have been rumors of very advanced talks with another American fund, the Californian Pimco (Pacific Investment Management Company), for a three-year agreement until 2027. In addition to interest payments, the new loan could also include a form of participation in the club’s turnover or a conversion of the loan into company shares. Also in recent weeks there has been talk of a close agreement with a British fund willing to guarantee Zhang a three-year loan of around 400 million euros with a rate of around 12%, and of negotiations with a mysterious member of the dynasty reigning in Saudi Arabia, but not linked to the very rich and now famous Pif fund, ready to take over the entire ownership of Inter.
To this story we must then add the strictly personal one. Recently the Court of Appeal of Milan recognized the ruling of a Hong Kong Court according to which the China Construction Bank Asia Corporation can demand from Zhang a credit of 320 million euros also in Italy. The court rejected all the defense arguments of the Nerazzurri president, indeed recognizing the request of the Chinese credit institution as valid precisely because in Milan Zhang holds the company shares of the new Italian champions. A story which according to the club does not directly reflect on Inter, but certainly complicates the position of the Nerazzurri owners quite a bit. Especially since another sentence could force Inter to pay Zhang an emolument, which coincidentally does not happen now, which would automatically become ‘attacked’ by creditors. In short, while on the pitch we are celebrating for the first time without a president 9,000 km away, behind the desk we are working hard to give stability and design a certain future for the club.
Tags: Inter Zhang Scudetto special day
