Oaktree have now officially taken control of Inter from Steven Zhang and Suning, and their statement sheds some light on their plans for the club.
The US fund have acquired the Nerazzurri after Zhang and Suning failed to pay back the circa €395m loan taken out back in May 2021, having used shares in the club as collateral. The club’s board of directors will now resign, and a new president will be appointed, possibly Javier Zanetti.
Inter’s current directors – Beppe Marotta, Alessandro Antonello, Dario Baccin, and Piero Ausilio – will all retain their roles despite the change of ownership, maintaining consistency ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Oaktree plans for Inter
In Oaktree’s statement regarding their takeover, plans and ambitions for the future were discussed, shedding some light on what the future of the club may look like under the US fund.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders.
“Oaktree values the legacy of the Club, the passion of the players, the loyalty of the Interisti, and the Club’s significant role in Milan, Italy and the global sporting community.
“Oaktree is committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch; focusing on robust management, operations and governance with a vision for sustainable growth and success.”
Whilst many expect Oaktree to immediately turn around and find a buyer for Inter, their words suggest some level of focus on sporting goals and ambitions for the near future. When Elliott Management took over Milan, they oversaw a Scudetto success before selling to RedBird.