Investment firm Oaktree Capital Management has taken ownership control of Inter Milan, one of the biggest brands in global soccer, after Inter’s owner, Suning, failed to repay a loan due this week with a balance of €395 million ($ 427 million based on current exchange rates ).
” We recognize our duty to Inter Milan’s society, background and legacy”, Alejandro Cano, inc- head of Europe for Oaktree’s World Opportunities strategy, said in a statement Wednesday morning. We are determined to ensure the club’s long-term victory and think that the Nerazzurri’s goals are shared by its devoted supporters in Italy and other countries. Operational security and stability are our top priorities at first.
Cano stated that Oaktree will continue to support the present Inter management team and has “great value” for them. As of March 31, Oaktree had property under control worth$ 192 billion.

Chinese conglomerate Suning bought 70 % of the team in 2016 in a deal that valued Inter at roughly$ 400 million. Suning took a €275 million ($ 297 million ) loan from Oaktree during the COVID- 19 pandemic to shore up the club’s finances.
According to several bankers who are aware of the process, Suning wanted to at least match the$ 1.2 billion that RedBird Capital paid for AC Milan in 2022 when they hired the Raine Group and Goldman Sachs to look into a sale of the team.
Before the date, Pimco had emerged as a potential helper for Suning to mortgage the debt, but they were unable to reach a compromise.
On Saturday, Inter president Steven Zhang, the 32- season- aged son of Suning creator Zhang Jindong, posted a letter to fans on the team’s website saying an agreement with Oaktree had been fruitless.
Total debt for Inter finally reached approximately$ 900 million, and potential buyers were scared off by the great debt, continued operating loss and facility confusion, the group’s historic home, San Siro, needs a large renovation or a new building. Inter and AC Milan, who have made it clear that they want to build a new stadium for themselves, own San Siro, and the city owns the stadium there.
The losses continued to pour up, but Inter Milan won the Serie A title this year, making it 20th overall, and reached last year’s Champions League final. Inter lost a combined$ 138 million after player trading during the 2021- 22 and 2022- 23 seasons.
Inter is the seventh Serie A team currently owned by Americans.
Asli Pelit contributed to this report.