Zhang Jindong: ‘Inter want Scudetto’

Zhang Jindong, the new Inter owner, says they are targeting “the Scudetto and Europa League” next season.

The Suning Group have completed a takeover of almost 70 per cent of the club’s shares, with Erick Thohir remaining as President, but Zhang as the owner.

“First of all I’d like to congratulate the Italian national team for reaching the [Euro 2016] Quarter-Finals,” the new Beneamata owner began today’s Press conference by saying.

Zhang Jindong, the new Inter owner, says they are targeting “the Scudetto and Europa League” next season.

The Suning Group have completed a takeover of almost 70 per cent of the club’s shares, with Erick Thohir remaining as President, but Zhang as the owner.

“First of all I’d like to congratulate the Italian national team for reaching the [Euro 2016] Quarter-Finals,” the new Beneamata owner began today’s Press conference by saying.

“We cheered for Italy together last night, and the most important moment came about from Eder’s foot, so that’s a point of pride for Italy and Inter fans.

“Suning have officially joined Inter, and we’re very excited. We dreamed of an international and historic brand and today that dream has come true, we’re side-by-side with a club like Inter with more than a century of history.

“I’d like to thank the legendary President [Massimo] Moratti for the trust shown in me. His passion and his enthusiasm touched me deeply.

“I want to thank Thohir for always choosing Suning, and it’s enthusiasm which has brought us here to Inter. There’s pressure now, given the responsibility which is now on our shoulders.

“We’re a young, established brand in Italy which now runs a historic club like Inter. We’ve always made profits around the world, and we’re a commercial giant in China.

“Inter’s history has always attracted us, it matches our mission exactly. This is a historic club, with a lot of fans in China, and with the arrival of Suning fans are wondering what we’ll do.

“Our group is aware that this is an Italian club, this doesn’t mean that we’ll take-over Inter. It’ll be a Suning-Italian, we’ll merge the two and that will lead to success.

“That’s our project. We want to win the Scudetto and the Europa League, that’s the only way you’ll get to the top of the world. Our confidence comes from the centuries-old culture of Inter, and its management.

“Our confidence comes from the support of the fans and the many champions who have worn this shirt. I’m happy that Moratti could become an Inter consultant, and will always be at our side supporting us. I want to think him again.

“Our confidence also comes from ourselves, and what we’ve been able to achieve despite being very young. Trust isn’t enough to be successful, we need everyone’s commitment.

“We want to start a new journey together, and we won’t go into it blind. We want to preserve the tradition of Inter, and I’d like to explain to you clearly what that means.

“We want to retain three principles: the first is professional management. Football is an art. The second is we want to return to the top of Serie A and the top in the Europa League to get back into the Champions League. That’s our objective.

“Third, we want to invest in basic facilities to create young Italian players to recall the glory days of President Moratti, starting from the youth we’ll build a club culture together.

“We’ll be able to reinvigorate our past by creating a brilliant future.”