Inter's Big Three Call for Zhang Kangyang to Stay: A Key Condition for Inzaghi's Contract Renewal

This morning’s front page of Gazzetta dello Sport featured a headline: Zhang Kangyang, in a rallying call to Inter Milan, issued a directive to aim for victory in the Milan Derby and secure the championship. However, a prominent forum member, still agitated by recent rumors of a Saudi royal family member’s alleged interest in buying Inter—a rumor we had earlier dismissed as baseless and unlikely in the short term—questioned Zhang's influence. The forum member argued that Zhang’s potential departure on May 20th renders his words inconsequential to Inter's future. But this view overlooks the primary rule of analysis: we must trust the direct statements of top executives over speculative media narratives.

Over the past 1-2 days, Inter’s top three executives—CEO Giuseppe Marotta, Financial CEO Alessandro Antonello, and Head Coach Simone Inzaghi—have each expressed their desire for Zhang Kangyang to remain with the club, hoping to avoid a change in ownership. Yesterday, Marotta stated, “May 20th marks the maturity date of the Oaktree loan? That’s beyond my purview as it concerns ownership. However, I spoke with Zhang Kangyang yesterday. Despite his physical absence, we feel his presence every day. We hope Zhang can continue to lead us forward. All signs indicate this; the club’s financial situation is stable, and we are reassured by this and wish to continue our collaboration with the Zhang family.”

Today, Antonello echoed similar sentiments in an interview. While expressing disappointment with the Milan city government over the San Siro renovation issue, he said, “Inter is a club with 750 million global supporters across 24 social media platforms, making it a significant club and economic entity, especially for fans. Running such a club demands a sense of responsibility. Over the past two years, did we hope for another capital to acquire Inter? No, we did not. Steven (Zhang Kangyang) is an excellent majority shareholder. In today’s football, much like in Italy, what drives progress often stems from interest or passion.”

Simultaneously, respected journalist Marco Biasin, well-connected with Inter’s upper management, pointed out, “Has Inzaghi received offers from the Premier League? Yes. But he will stay at Inter; he is eager to help the club challenge for the Club World Cup. Inzaghi said, ‘Renewing my contract and moving forward with Inter poses no issues.’ After securing the championship, he will finalize this with the club. He will have two conditions: a reassessment of his value (i.e., a raise) and a guarantee that he can continue with the current team.” Biasin made these comments on a TV program, and given the context, it’s clear that by "team," he meant not just the players but also the major shareholders and the CEO.

It is widely accepted that Inter’s “big three”—Marotta, Antonello, and Inzaghi—form the core decision-making team. Their collective wish for Zhang Kangyang to remain carries significant weight. This sentiment is not limited to the upper echelons; recent polls reflect the same. Two to three years ago, during the pandemic crisis when Inter struggled with unpaid wages and bills, and executives desperately sought financial rescue from the Zhang family, 90% of fans wanted new ownership, fearing bankruptcy like that of Modena and other historic clubs. However, in a recent poll conducted by Italian media in April, public opinion has shifted dramatically. When asked if Zhang Kangyang has done a good job at Inter, 87% responded affirmatively. When asked if they support the acquisition of Inter by foreign capital, only 38.3% were in favor, with over 60% preferring Zhang Kangyang to stay.

Unlike forum members who disregard daily news and base their opinions on assumptions, figures like Marotta and Inzaghi are fully aware of the situation. Even if Zhang Kangyang remains, Inter is likely to “borrow new loans to repay old ones,” struggling to sustain itself. Given the current global political climate, national policies, and Suning’s business status, Zhang Kangyang is almost certainly unable to make substantial investments in Inter in the short term. Despite this, many still hope for Zhang’s continued leadership, not just out of gratitude for his contributions to Inter’s success, but because they understand the principle of choosing the lesser evil. They believe that unreliable new ownership could cause more harm than Zhang Kangyang’s continued stewardship.

My personal stance has always been clear: Inter’s change of ownership is inevitable, a matter of when, not if. Rather than the new owner's “strength,” I am more concerned with their “sincerity and sense of responsibility.” If the new owner is merely a wealthy entity looking for quick profits, it would be better to continue under Zhang’s management. Until May 20th, speculation about Inter’s future ownership will likely continue until the dust settles. In this critical period, the collective desire of Inter’s leadership for Zhang Kangyang to stay represents the simplest wish of those working on the front lines: to seek stability and avoid drastic changes.