Inter Milan President Argues: ‘Don’t Know Where We’d Be Without Foreign Ownership In Serie A’ | OneFootball

Inter Milan President Beppe Marotta admits that he “doesn’t know where we’d be without foreign owners” in Serie A.

The Nerazzurri President spoke at the “Constituzione e Sport” event, via FCInterNews. He gave his views on the transition away from Italian owners.

Inter’s last three owners have all come from outside of Italy.

Prior to that, the Nerazzurri had a long tradition of Italian owners. Massimo Moratti, and earlier on his father Angelo Moratti exemplified this.

But times have changed in Serie A.

The ownership models have had to adjust to new financial realities.

And Inter, like city rivals AC Milan, have been hallmarks of this changing situation.

Up until May of last year, Inter had been under the ownership of Chinese company Suning.

However, financial problems finally caught up with the embattled former owners last spring. In May, they were unable to pay back their debut to North American fund Oaktree Capital.

Therefore, after Suning’s default, Oaktree took over as Inter owners.

Inter President Marotta: “Don’t Know Where We’d Be” Without Foreign Owners In Serie A

Beppe Marotta replaced Steven Zhang as Inter President after Oaktree’s arrival.

The 67-year-old had already been the Nerazzurri’s CEO of Sport under Suning. That’s a role he’d held since 2018, when he left Juventus.

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)

Marotta noted that “Once upon a time, we had a patronage model.”

“That of the great entrepreneur.”

“But today, twelve out of twenty clubs in Serie A are under foreign ownership. And thank goodness that’s the case!”

“Because I don’t know where we’d have ended up otherwise,” Marotta admitted.

“That’s made clear at all the youth levels in the lack, particularly in the more peripheral clubs, of guaranteeing free early football.”

“Local sponsorships have disappeared,” noted the Inter President.

“Previously, the local pizzeria manager would give you €5000. Today, that’s no longer the case.”

“And so clubs are now forced to charge a fee that comes to around €1000 per child.”