APPIANO GENTILE – Inter chief communications office Robert Faulkner and chief revenue officer Michael Gandler appeared at a news conference on Tuesday to unveil a brand-new official partnership for the club’s training grounds and apparel.
Michael Gandler introduced the deal and answered questions from journalists present in Appiano Gentile: "This is a very important day for Inter as a football club. There has been significant change around Appiano Gentile. For the last four or five months we have been working diligently with our counterparts at Suning to develop a programme of rights and benefits.
"Suning have over 1600 retail locations in China and are expanding into territories throughout Asia. The relationship with Inter – not only from an ownership position but also in terms of this marketing investment – is very key and pivotal.
"Suning.com and Suning Sports will be the featured brand on all of our training apparel and training activities, while the training ground takes the name of the Suning Training Centre in memory of Angelo Moratti. It’s very important to respect the history and heritage of the club and the importance of the Moratti family. Similarly, our youth training centre will become the Suning Youth Development Centre in memory of Giacinto Facchetti.
"We’re in the process of developing a lot of custom activities to ensure close collaboration between Suning and Inter. With over a third of our fans being based in China and more broadly in Asia, that is where we feel the next opportunity lies for us.
"It is a singular contract which includes all of the different facilities. We can tell you that it is very much in line with all of the deals in the market.
“Inter’s intention has always been and continues to be to stay at San Siro. The ownership has committed to investing in San Siro and building a more modern San Siro, something that has the types of benefits and facilities that fans today expect from a football club. Obviously there are challenges and complications along the way, but San Siro is our home.
"In the last 18 months, Inter has opened offices in the USA, Jakarta and we’re in the process of opening an office in Nanjing. The expectation is that several deals will come – we’ve got several brands that are now appreciating the full strength and power of what the Inter brand has to offer, particularly in Asia.
"For the Chinese market and for Asia in general we have a partnership with Nike and we are working on the development of a strategy and an ecommerce platform in conjunction with Suning.
"We have a multi-year partnership with Pirelli. It’s one of the longest in the history of professional football for playing jerseys. We’re incredibly enthusiastic about the partnership we have – Pirelli is one of the premier global brands and is prestigious in every regard."
