Inter president Steven Zhang is close to reaching an agreement with Oaktree which would allow him to retain control of the Nerazzurri. Doubts had arisen in recent months regarding the rescheduling of a loan that Zhang took out with the US investment fund that had allowed him to cover operational costs at the club.
According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, significant progress is being made towards a renewal of the loan agreement with Oaktree, with shorter timeframes being considered. This would allow Zhang to retain control of the club without the US fund exercising the pledge on shares. However, it does not close the doors to seeking interested parties for the club’s future.
It’s a sort of hybrid solution. As explained by Gazzetta, the most concrete possibility at present involves renewing the loan with higher interest rates than the current 12%, and with a timeframe of one more year or at most two. This provides Suning with a margin to conclude the club’s restructuring work.
Extending the terms would allow everyone to understand the evolution of the stadium issue, with the club working on the Rozzano area while also keeping an eye on developments around the renovation of the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. Naturally, a new stadium would also mean a leap forward in terms of Inter’s valuation.
While there’s still work to do, Gazzetta suggest that the signs are encouraging, and while Zhang may not be able to return to Milan for the Scudetto celebration, he is still in daily contact with the management and coach Simone Inzaghi. Furthermore, market guidelines have already been set, and the possibility of a summer tour in China remains very much alive..
Finally, regarding renewals: there will be no need to reduce the wage bill, especially considering many free transfer acquisitions that have lowered the amortization costs.
