Serie A side Inter Milan President Massimo Moratti has played down reports that "he is about to sell a majority stake in the club" to Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir, according to the AFP. Reports suggested that Moratti was pondering selling a majority stake in the club to Thohir, "a sale that would allow new coach Walter Mazzarri to buy players and give the club an option on a new stadium." After meeting reporters on Monday morning, however, Moratti played down the reports, suggesting that "talks were now focused elsewhere." Moratti, who reportedly wants the guarantee of a new stadium written into any future sale or partial sale of the club, said, "No, no, we're discussing something entirely different." Reports claimed that Thohir "had given Inter a one-week deadline to decide how much they were willing to relinquish, or the offer would be removed." Thohir has tabled an offer of €260M-€300M ($340M-$390M) -- as well as a further €100M ($130M) "to invest immediately in players -- to acquire a commanding stake in the club" (AFP, 6/3). FORZA ITALIAN FOOTBALL's Drew Farmer reported Serie A club Napoli Owner Aurelio De Laurentiis "will buy a second football club as a farm team and feeder club for the Partenopei." The system "will help the club cultivate talent from other countries and allow players to gain significant first team action before being brought to Napoli or sold to other clubs for a profit" (FORZA ITALIAN FOOTBALL, 6/2).
