This is the 31-year-old leading the ‘new’ Inter

AndIn 2016, Inter changed again. After the departure of the Moratti family in 2013, Stephen Zhang and Sunning replaced Erik Thuhir of China from Indonesia., who did not succeed (so to speak) in Milan. Zhang Jingdong (at the head of home appliance giant Suning Commerce Group) put his young son (26 years old at the time) at the head of the “Nerazzurri” club as president. and this is It came with millions to sign and many ideas for application. Years later, the Champions League final date is approaching… Although the project has seen more peaks than anyone in Milan could have imagined.

Italian journalist Pasquale Guaro, from the Calciomercato website, told MARCA. . Lukaku, Eriksen, Achraf or Antonio Conte are examples of moves Zhang has made to “revive” Inter that haven’t won anything in years. At the same time work was done in the offices: “Beppe” Marotta arrived from Turin after transforming Juventus into absolute dominance of Serie A. He will be the new general manager of Inter.

At first Zhang lived up to expectations: upon his arrival he invested several million in Inter

Pasquale Guaro, Italian journalist

“He changed the history of Inter with big investments. Lots of money in the club in its infancy… He started building a different club in a different way.”confirms to MARCA Filippo Conticello of “La Gazzetta dello Sport”. “People were very excited. He said his idea was that Inter would dominate Europe…to create something big.”

People were very excited. He said his idea was that Inter would dominate Europe…to create something big

Filippo Conticello, Italian journalist

The result was winning the ‘Scudetto’ (21/2020) and reaching the Europa League final (lost to Sevilla). By the way, Inter reshaped its image: changing the shield and name to Inter Milan, leaving behind the classic “Inter Milan Milan FC”. The idea, Zhang explained, was to “open up to an increasingly digital and aesthetically conscious audience” to reach “universal goals and people of all ages.”

Zhang, who lived in China but visited Milan frequently to keep up with what was happening at Inter, became a regular at the Meazza boxes… or at Inter’s big matches away from Milan. It looked like it was in danger. At that time, his father’s company paid 270 million euros for a 68.55% stake in Inter, and as reported by ‘Calcio e Finanza’, since his arrival, Suning has invested nearly 800 million euros in the project.

Italian league won? I would like to thank Massimo Moratti, who has guided and supported me emotionally and psychologically in recent years.

Stephen Chang, President of Inter

“Won the Italian League? I want to thank Massimo Morattiwho in recent years has guided and supported me from an emotional and psychological point of view, and It helped me understand what Inter is and what it means.”narrated after winning the “Scudetto” and breaking Juventus’ nine-title dominance. Everything, at the time, pointed to a new “Nerazzuri” dynasty…but that was not the case.

“He’s a quiet, quiet guy… He doesn’t speak Italian. Well, a little… Of Chang’s character, Conticello says, “He has the passion of a young person but he’s not someone who likes to show off.” “For him, this football thing was completely new.”Add.

The epidemic “paralyzed” Inter

“Because of the epidemic, Suning has suffered an irreversible crisis… So much so that the Zhangs almost lose control of the company. At the moment they no longer have the possibility to inject capital into Inter and, in fact, the debt is growing.”Pascual Guaro tells MARCA. also had COVID, Many of the sponsors that Suning brought from Asia are gone…

Because of the epidemic, Suning has suffered an irreversible crisis… so much so that Zhangs almost lost control of the company

Pasquale Guaro, Italian journalist

Inter stopped making transfers, lost Conte and had to succumb to the offers that came in: Lukaku and Achraf were the first to leave Milan. Now, rumors about the club’s future do not stop circulating in Italy … and the rest of the world: “There is an important deadline with OakTree that is likely to determine the future of the club.”

Pasquale Guarro points out the fact of this In the next thirteen months, the Zhang family must repay OaktTree the loan requested in 2021: its value? 275 million euros Which has become a 350 also adding interest. Otherwise, the Americans will enter the ownership of Inter. Meanwhile, Zhang denies any possibility of selling the club…that’s right Now it’s worth up to four times what they paid on their day.

“All investments are banned and Inter loses a champion every year”Pascual tells Guaro who admits that people are not entirely happy in Milan. or unhappy. “The club lives year after year with the directors’ ideas”Conticello concludes, stressing that thanks to market movements, the team remains competitive … in Italy and in Europe.