Oaktree and Inter: from an almost accidental acquisition to a financial deal

On the eve of the Milan derby, the Corriere dello Sport also dedicates space to the economic dimension of the city rivalry, retracing the corporate transformations of the two clubs compared to the era of the Berlusconi and Moratti ownerships.

As the newspaper points out, since the “all-China” derby on Easter Saturday 2017, the landscape has changed profoundly. Today, the Milan challenge is American: both Inter and Milan belong to US financial investors, with distinct management philosophies. The Nerazzurri club maintains management rooted in Italy, while RedBird has given Milan a more international imprint, with the ownership involved almost daily in sporting decisions.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Oaktree found itself with the Nerazzurri club almost by chance—and initially, apparently, unwillingly—after Zhang‘s default. However, the situation turned out to be more favorable than expected: the old loan of nearly 400 million would have generated multiplied returns over time, also thanks to a management described as highly skilled.

On the financial front, the picture has improved significantly. Inter has closed the last two financial years in the black, with revenues above the half-billion mark and debts sharply down. A concrete sign of stability, after years the newspaper describes as difficult.