MILAN - A press conference was held earlier following this morning's shareholders' meeting. Erick Thohir, Javier Zanetti, Michael Bolingbroke, Sun Weimin and Yang Yang all answered questions from the media. Read the transcript below.
What are Suning Holdings Group's plans in the short and long term?
Yang Yang: "We've become the majority shareholder of the club, we've invested 270 million and we want to support the club's future development.”
Have you spoken to Mancini yet to discuss how to improve the team?
“As we've said, we believe strongly in Mancini. He's done an excellent job and improved the team's performances. Obviously we need to keep growing because our aim is to get back into the Champions League. Lots of new players joined last year and I don't think that will be necessary this summer. We want consistency so we'll add to the squad and improve it. Suning obviously want to bring in the world's best players and we're looking at the Italian market too. We're looking into the possibility of bringing Gabriel Jesus to Inter and we're monitoring players like Berardi and Candreva, but we only want to improve the squad, not make big changes.”
Are there any plans in the pipeline to help develop Chinese football?
Sun Weimin: "Suning's commercial resources are there to serve Inter's needs. It's a synergy so we will help each other with the aim of achieving our respective targets. Inter's experience can certainly help Jiangsu to grow.”
Thohir: "As you know, Inter have one of the best youth academies in Europe and through Inter Academy we'll help Chinese football to produce talented players and to access the global market.”
Could Suning's investment affect Inter's transfer dealings this summer, maybe renegotiating the agreement with UEFA or via partnerships with Jiangsu F.C.?
Thohir: "Obviously we need to respect Financial Fair Play and we believe the players we have at the moment are the ones Inter need. We could do with a few quality additions who can help us achieve our ambitions because we want to get back in the Champions League.”
Bolingbroke: "We'll hold talks with UEFA because the club is under new ownership now. We're in the second year of our agreement so we do need to respect certain parameters but we can certainly negotiate with them.”
Yang Yang: "Our management team has a plan in place to support the club's development in Europe and Asia.”
Does Suning’s development plan include the building of a new stadium or the purchase of the Stadio Meazza? Will you invest in infrastructure too?
Bolingbroke: "There are expenses which don’t impact Financial Fair Play. We’re in talks with Suning over the stadium, San Siro remains our club’s home but, as you know, there’s an investment plan for the Meazza and that will be assessed in detail with Suning over the next few months.”
Thohir: "Over the last two years we’ve tried to complete the San Siro project. I believe it’s feasible but we’re waiting to see what the other stakeholders do. We’ll discuss it with the new mayor Giuseppe Sala too because the project also needs to interest the city of Milan, one of world football’s main hubs.”
What will Suning’s approach be after acquiring the majority share in Inter?
Sun Weimin: "We have already revealed some of our strategy. We have to assess the demands of the Chinese people in terms of sport and entertainment. We want to improve the service we provide and Inter are an international club with the biggest fanbase in China. Therefore the Nerazzurri strategy is perfectly in line with Suning’s development plans.”
What will Massimo Moratti’s role be? Do you plan to meet Roberto Mancini to discuss the future?
Thohir: "We’ll meet Mancini. It’s important that the new ownership and the coach talk about targets and the type of support there could be. Massimo Moratti is leading us in spirit and no one can ever replace him. That’s the route Suning want to take because Moratti is part of the family. He will be a consultant and the club will remain in contact with him much like in the last few years.”
President Thohir, what will your role be in a few years’ time and what are Suning’s plans?
Yang Yang: "Under the leadership of president Thohir, the management achieved significant results, thus we’re not considering making changes there. We have appointed a new board of directors with five members from Suning. We will strengthen our support to the club.”
Thohir: "When I came to Italy, I said I wanted to put together a strong managerial team but that I wouldn’t be in competition with Moratti. That’s why, under the previous ownership, I think I created the springboard allowing Inter to once again compete at the highest level. I thank Mr Zhang and Suning for their belief in this project. I will keep working sensibly, I will do my best and I will give everything for Inter. Thanks to Suning’s support we can move forward and reach an even higher plane. I would like to once again thank all of the supporters who have backed us during this transition. Thanks to Suning – and indeed Inter Campus and Inter Club – our presence in Asia will grow further. We’ll keep developing to reach the goals we’ve set ourselves.”
What are your plans with regards to FFP, sponsors and partners?
Bolingbroke: "One of the big advantages of Suning’s investment is access to the Chinese market. We’ll have greater access to the market to find new commercial deals and this will benefit the team and the Financial Fair Play agreements. We’re working with a few clubs and we hope to make some official announcements in the future.”
Yang Yang: "Mr Bolingbroke has explained that Suning are a commercial giant, our partners are looking at Europe and we’ll definitely discuss with our management whether we can work together going forward. Inter have lots of supporters in China where we sell lots of products and that will also help Inter’s turnover.”
Will someone stay in Italy? Will any of the indispensable players not leave? What will Zanetti’s role be?
Yang Yang: "Inter are a club made up of professionals with Italian and foreign managerial staff. My colleagues and I at Suning will contribute via the board."
Javier Zanetti: "In terms of my role, I’m proud to be vice president of Inter and I’m learning a lot thanks to the group of people I work alongside. I’m involved in big decisions at the club. This is a huge opportunity for the club which is becoming more global albeit with foundations in Italy. We must never lose our identity nor our respect towards our fans. The big challenge is bringing together all these components.”
Thohir: "We want to put together a team that can compete for the Champions League.”
Can you tell the fans whether you’re close to signing Gabriel Jesus? Are there any Jiangsu Suning players that could move to Milan?
Thohir: "There are a few clubs interested in Gabriel Jesus, not just Inter. We’ll do all we can to sign him but there’s competition. Ultimately it will be up to him to decide whether he likes our plans or not. If that doesn’t happen, we’re monitoring other players too. Suning want to bring in Italian and foreign players and we’ll see how we can strengthen the club and excite the supporters.”
Javier Zanetti: "We’ll begin in the next few days. There’s a long way to go in the transfer window and there will be more opportunities going forward.”
How can you keep the Italian core at Inter? Will the club keep growing internationally?
Javier Zanetti: "I’m not worried about us losing our Italian roots, the most important thing for us is retaining our DNA, our history, past experiences and success. The fans want to relive this and that’s why we have to build a team that can compete with the top sides in Europe. It’s down to us to do great work from this starting point. We need to all work together in unison with the idea that the only aim is what’s best for Inter. The fans will back us.”
