Lead:
Inter Milan and AC Milan, the competition between the two Milanese giants is becoming increasingly fierce. Inter's last win against AC Milan to win five in a row is one has to admit that the gap between the two clubs is gradually widening. However, behind the victory lies the difficult reality of Inter's finances. At the same time, AC Milan has shown ambitious plans for the future. This article will take an in-depth look at the current situation, development strategies, and possible ways forward for both teams.
Inter Milan have won five consecutive matches against AC Milan in the latest round of the league, an achievement that undoubtedly highlights once again the gap between the two Milanese giants.
However, what this victory masks is the serious financial challenges facing Inter. Although the team has come out of a difficult financial path, it still has to deal with huge debt and interest expenses.
Inter's turnaround began last season when they reached the Champions League final and brought in significant revenue for the team. Marotta's shrewd signings not only strengthened the squad perfectly during the summer transfer window, but also saved a lot of money on debt repayment. However, Inter Milan has chosen to rely on veteran players to attract experienced stars through high salaries, which contrasts with AC Milan's development strategy.
In contrast, AC Milan's strategy focuses on developing young players and finding promising stars in the fringe leagues. This summer, they even fired sporting director Maldini, revolutionizing the way the star processing plant operates. This means that Milan will live in the shadow of Inter Milan for quite some time to come.
However, Milan's only chance to turn things around seems to be the deteriorating financial situation at Inter. Inter Milan is currently saddled with up to 800 million euros in debt and needs to pay up to 50 million euros in interest every year.
In addition, the ownership of the club is also at risk of Oaktree Capital's repossession, as Oaktree Capital will gain control of the club if Inter Milan is unable to repay its 330 million euros debt by next May.
In order to get out of this crisis, Zhang Kangyang can only hope for the sale of the team to obtain financial income and buy more time on this basis. Fortunately, Inter Milan have amassed a group of high-potential stars who are expected to make a lot of money in the transfer market.
For example, players such as Lautaro, Barrera, Bastoni and Di Marco have attracted the attention of many clubs.
With five goals and one assist in the first four rounds of the new season, Lautaro has soared to €85 million, meaning he could trade for more than €100 million.
The 26-year-old Argentine centre-forward has reached the pinnacle of his career, with impressive form and performance, becoming the top attacking player that the giants are eager to sign. According to the latest reports, Chelsea still plan to sign Lautaro in the transfer window, which could be a big deal this summer.
However, Inter has not only acted on player sales.
They have also embarked on a massive introduction of young stars, albeit lacking the tactical guidance of a head coach, which looks more like a stockpiling sport. The result of this strategy is a large and bloated first-team team but a lack of truly top stars in all positions.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea still don't have an authentic centre-forward, and Nkunku, who was brought in at a high price in the summer, is more used for shadow play. Although Nicholas Jackson's performance barely passed, there is still a considerable gap compared to the big starting center. With Pochettino's arrival, Chelsea have been better but still lacking in scoring.
For their part, Inter Milan want to renew Lautaro's contract until 2028, which means extending the contract by 2 years on top of the existing one, with a salary increase of 4 million euros. At the same time, the termination clause in the original contract will also be removed. However, although Lautaro is worth 15 million euros
Pre-tax salary, but Inter's financial situation makes the contract very fragile.
Contract negotiations between Inter Milan and Lautaro were fraught with challenges. The team wants to keep the striker, but also needs to consider financial sustainability.
This complicates the conclusion of renewal agreements. Lautaro is the heart of Inter's attack, and his goalscoring ability is an important support for the team, so his importance cannot be underestimated.
However, Inter's financial problems remain dire. Balancing the team's competitive ambitions with financial realities has become a huge challenge. Teams need to find ways to pay off debt and reduce interest expense while remaining competitive. This may mean that the team has to give up some players to get the necessary cash flow.
At the same time, AC Milan is actively changing its future.
They are trying to achieve a competitive advantage with Inter Milan by investing in young players and reshaping their strategy. This strategy may take time to bear fruit, but once it does, AC Milan will hopefully reclaim Milan's glory.
In general, the rivalry between Inter Milan and AC Milan is not limited to the stadium, but also includes financial and strategic aspects. Both clubs are trying to achieve their goals, but both face difficulties and challenges. The coming seasons will determine who will prevail in the Milan city's derby, and the competition is bound to be even more intense and variable.