Inter Milan President Laments Lack Of Financial Power In Serie A: “TV Rights Worth €200M, In Premier League €3Bn” | OneFootball

Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta has expressed concern over Serie A’s limited financial might compared to top European rivals.

During his recent interview via FCInter1908, Marotta compared running a football club to managing a business.

Despite Italian clubs’ standout results in European football over the years, they’ve been marginal players in the transfer market.

Indeed, Premier League outfits continue to dominate the continental landscape.

Furthermore, they leverage eye-watering broadcasting revenues to outmuscle foreign competitors in the market.

Elsewhere, Barcelona and Real Madrid maintain their elite status thanks to vast commercial power.

Meanwhile, Serie A teams often have to settle for crumbs, picking up the leftovers.

For example, Los Blancos splashed €70 million to sign former Inter Milan target Franco Mastantuono in the summer.

Therefore, the Nerazzurri never stood a realistic chance of signing the Argentine prodigy.

Seemingly frustrated with the current situation, Marotta blasted Serie A’s underwhelming sponsorship deals.

Inter Milan President Beppe Marotta Makes Ominous Financial Admission

PARMA, ITALY – APRIL 05: Giuseppe Marotta of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between Parma and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on April 05, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“Today our league is in a transitional phase, unlike the 2000s when we had the best ranking of all and were also competitive,” Beppe Marotta said.

“Nowadays, the most important player arrives when he’s 40.

“At present, we aren’t able to buy a player like Real Madrid does. Mastantuono was paid €60-70 million.

“Italian clubs in 2004-2006 at most spent €30-35 million on a player.

“Inter, Milan, Juve, Roma, Napoli, and Atalanta have had to rely on player trading and capital gains.

“Selling players used to be rare; today it has become a key tool for balancing the books. Without capital gains, clubs couldn’t present an adequate budget.

“This is the major difference between Italy and England, as English TV rights are four times higher than ours – we reach €200 million, they reach €3 billion.

“The economic aspect doesn’t give you competitive power.”

New Club Philosophy

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 22: (L-R) CEO Corporate FC Internazionale Alessandro Antonello, Oaktree’s Global Opportunities strategy Managing Director Katherine Ralph, Managing Director and Co-Head of Europe for Oaktree’s Global Opportunities strategy Alejandro Cano, CEO Sport FC Internazionale Giuseppe Marotta attend a meeting between FC Internazionale new owners Oaktree and Club’s Management on May 22, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Guido De Bortoli/Getty Images)

“Football is similar to a company, with governance dependent on shareholders,” Marotta continued. “Then it’s made up of people representing the entire staff.

“We are renovating the Appiano Gentile training center. You have to imagine what football will look like in 15 years.

“What will the needs be in 15 years? Inter’s plan includes 20 psychologists, from the first team to the youngest kids.

“I’ve noticed that, even though I love fostering mental development, it’s still difficult. It’s often seen as a doctor who has to “fix” you.

“Compared to Nordic countries, the approach isn’t the same: the psychologist should also guide children, which requires trust.

“Approaching a system that stimulates mental performance is fundamental for the future.

“There are countless roles in a football club; it’s a true company.

“The core business is always entertainment, but to achieve that entertainment, there are numerous components.

“When you want to develop a player, modern tools are used: algorithms help you make better decisions.

“Algorithms or digital tools. When signing a striker, you need to know how well he sees the goal, along with a range of data to support the choice.

“Even today, there’s a gap. You don’t fully understand a player’s human aspect.

“This also ties into the difference between talent and a champion. If someone hasn’t become a champion, it’s often due to the mental aspect.”