The purchase of Inter Milan shares by the Suning Group reportedly "could be part of a larger Chinese football plan," according to FOOTBALL ITALIA. The club is looking to sell 20% of its shares to the Suning conglomerate in a deal that has "already generated enormous speculation." President Erick Thohir is rumored to "have a secret agenda of his own, while the club's offices are said to have been bugged." Corriere dello Sport "believes that the Suning Group are acting after governmental orders from Beijing." Apparently the sale of Inter "would involve an exchange between the business conglomerate and the club." The Chinese would "allow the club to pay off their debts and face the future with the appropriate financial means," while Inter would provide the club "with football managers, staff and expertise that they could use in their league." The Corriere "makes no mention" of AC Milan, even though club President Silvio Berlusconi is "undergoing negotiations of his own to sell the club to a Chinese group" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 4/24).
MAINTAINING CONTROL: FOOTBALL ITALIA reported in a separate piece Berlusconi "may add a clause in his deal for the sale of Milan that may let him retain control of the club's transfers." He is "expected to sell the majority of the club's shares to Chinese investor Robin Li" in a deal that would pour €400M ($449M) into the club's accounts. Berlusconi is reportedly "looking to add an unusual clause in the contract." He is "asking to be nominated not just as the club's honorary president, but also as technical consultant, which would leave him with a measure of control" on the club's transfers and formation (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 4/24).
