Javier Zanetti confessed Inter have ‘serious financial problems’ and owners Suning could’ve sold the club ‘mid-season’ while the Super League was ‘a mistake.’
While the Nerazzurri are currently celebrating their first Serie A title in 11 years, the issues remain and director of sport Zanetti explained them to Argentine newspaper La Nacion.
Javier Zanetti confessed Inter have ‘serious financial problems’ and owners Suning could’ve sold the club ‘mid-season’ while the Super League was ‘a mistake.’
While the Nerazzurri are currently celebrating their first Serie A title in 11 years, the issues remain and director of sport Zanetti explained them to Argentine newspaper La Nacion.
“Conte has brought a work ethic and mentality first and foremost. He convinced even the youngest players that his project could really work. Since the day he arrived, not a day has gone by without him thinking how to improve this team. He convinced the club to follow him.
“There was some initial scepticism about his past at Juventus, but they learned to love him. He has been focused since the first day and accepted this challenge like a real Interista.”
Zanetti admits the degree to which Inter were struggling and could have seen Suning bail out.
“It’s true that the club could’ve been sold mid-season. We were going through serious financial problems, even if we weren’t the only ones in such a difficult moment.
“I saw that as a club we can still improve. The coach has done something extraordinary over two years, now it’s up to us to improve the internal mechanism and aspire to something more.
“The financial problems remain and it could take a couple of years to rediscover that balance. We need people back in the stadium to make the sponsors happy. Basically, a return to normality.
“We mustn’t hide, it is a delicate moment, but we want this so we can take a bigger step forward. What we need is an over-reaching strategy that guarantees sustainability in the long-term.”
It was also because of these financial issues that Inter were one of three Italian clubs – along with Juventus and Milan – to sign up for the European Super League.
“The idea didn’t last long and the fans gave their response,” added Zanetti. “I don’t even mean just the 12 founding clubs, but the fans of all football.
“It was a mistake and we have to learn from mistakes. It was an error, without doubt, but will certainly help FIFA, UEFA and the main football bodies to come together with clubs and find alternative ways of improving the football world.”