Inter’s excellent results in recent years, putting aside their Champions League performances under Cristian Chivu, two consecutive years of positive financial results, progress towards obtaining the final permits for the construction of a new stadium, and a squad valued at close to 900 million euros have made the Italian champions highly attractive to investors from the Persian Gulf. More specifically, they have caught the eye of a close relative of Qatar’s ruler and the former prime minister of the Gulf monarchy, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, better known by the initials HBJ.
Qatar’s ruling family has expressed interest in acquiring a stake in Inter’s ownership structure and subsequently taking over the club. HBJ has practically relocated to Milan in recent times, given Doha’s extensive range of investments, spanning healthcare and the property market. Last April, they purchased a building on the central Via Monte Napoleone for more than one billion euros, while in June HBJ bought the famous Villa Certosa from the Berlusconi family for 350 million euros. The villa clearly does not hold the same significance for Silvio Berlusconi’s children as it did for their father.
Read Also: Inter’s embarrassment in Milan: Brugge prodigy wrecks Nerazzurri
The Qatari tycoons have been particularly attracted to Inter because of the plans to build a new stadium, develop accompanying facilities and redevelop the entire surrounding area, allowing them to combine their passion for property acquisitions with their interest in sport. Inter generates more than half a billion euros in annual revenue, and a new stadium could increase that figure by 10 to 20 per cent. According to Forbes estimates, Inter is currently worth 1.5 billion euros, while Football Benchmark values the club at more than two billion euros. In Milan, meanwhile, there is a belief that Oaktree will demand a figure substantially exceeding two billion euros.