Now it's official, Inter belongs to Oaktree. The Inter club passes into the hands of the American fund, as the Chinese owners defaulted on their debt and could not pay it back. No agreement was reached.
Now, Oaktree, the American fund, is in charge and this is the official statement:
"As of May 22, 2024, funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, LP ("Oaktree") are the owners of FC Internazionale Milano. This follows the non-repayment of the three-year loan granted by Oaktree to Inter's holding companies, which expired on May 21, 2024, with an overall balance of approximately 395 million euros. In May 2021, as Inter was about to register record financial losses for the 2020/2021 financial year, Oaktree provided the necessary resources to Inter's holding companies to stabilise the Club's financial situation and continue to operate, ensuring the payment of players and employees. In the three years since Oaktree's emergency intervention, Inter has won its eighth and ninth Coppa Italia, secured the sixth, seventh, and eighth Supercoppa, and earned the 20th scudetto and the historic second star, as well as reaching the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since 2010. Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best result for Inter's long-term prosperity, with an initial focus on the Club's operational and financial stability and its stakeholders. Oaktree has great respect for Inter's history, the players' passion, the loyalty of Interisti; it also greatly values the Club's significant role towards the city of Milan, Italy, and the global sports community. Oaktree intends to work closely with Inter's current management team, partners, league, and sports governing bodies to ensure that the Club is positioned for success on and off the field, focusing on solid management and governance with a vision of sustainable growth and success."
Alejandro Cano, Managing Director and Co-Head Europe for Oaktree's Global Opportunities strategy, commented: 'As the new ownership, we understand our great responsibility to the community and the historical legacy of Inter. We are committed to the long-term success of the Nerazzurri and believe that our ambitions for the Club align with those of its passionate fans in Italy and around the world. Our initial goal is the operational and financial stability of the Club. We have great respect for Inter's management group and look forward to working closely with them to provide strong leadership for the Club. Winning the second star was a crucial moment for the Club, and our goal is to continue the success achieved on the field with a path of long-term growth and success.'
Oaktree and Inter's management group will be in contact with the Club's key stakeholders in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
Oaktree is one of the leading global asset managers specialising in alternative investments, with assets under management of $192 billion (as of March 31, 2024). Oaktree follows a value-oriented and risk-controlled approach, investing in credit, private equity, real estate, and stocks. It has over 1,200 employees and offices in 23 cities worldwide."
