Inter Milan’s Steven Zhang says’ dream’ Serie A title is ‘reward for five years hard work’ under Suning
- Chinese-owned Italian champions celebrate first scudetto in 11 years in front of 1,000 fans at San Siro with 5-1 win over Udinese
- Former player Eder says he hopes Serie A club avoid same fate as disbanded Chinese Super League champions Jiangsu FC
‘Dreams do come true,’ Inter Milan president Steven Zhang wrote on social media after the Chinese-owned Italian giants celebrated being handed the Serie A trophy on Sunday, calling the title reward for five years of hard work since Suning took over the club in 2016.
Zhang’s Instagram post came after the season ending 5-1 win over Udinese at San Siro on Sunday, a day after former Inter striker Eder warned of the nightmare at Suning’s other club, Chinese Super League champions Jiangsu FC.
“I hope that the money will also come for us at Suning FC,” Eder wrote on Twitter in response to a report in Italian media that Inter had finally agreed a deal with Oaktree Capital to secure much needed investment.
Inter confirmed the deal to Italian news agency ANSA last week, though reports that it is valued at US$336 million were not confirmed by the club.
“And I hope that Inter will not happen like us (since the ownership of the clubs is the same) that after winning the Chinese championship in December, the club did not pay us. (eight full monthly payments and taxes on previous ones),” Eder added. The Italy international striker left Inter for Jiangsu in 2018.
Fans of the Chinese champions, who disbanded before the 2021 season as the retail giants pulled their funding, have been furious. Some called for Zhang and his father, Suning owner Zhang Jindong, to get out of China.
Inter finished their championship winning season in front of 1,000 fans at San Siro, with several thousand more gathered outside.
“It is a special moment for us, for what we have experienced in these past five years,” the Inter president said after the game.
“It is wonderful to be able to share all of this with our people, our fans.”
Zhang, celebrating the Italian side’s first scudetto in 11 years, described it as a reward for five years of hard work in interviews with Italian media and Inter TV, the club’s own channel.
“It’s a special moment, it’s difficult to find the right words to describe it. It’s the result of everything we’ve done in the last year, but not just that … every day and every match in the last five years has been important,” Zhang said, as quoted by the club’s official website.
“Everything that we’ve done has been crucial in terms of achieving this objective. We’ve reaped the rewards of the work we’ve put in, this feeling of joy has been worth all the challenges we’ve had to overcome.
“It’s a feeling I’d like to share with all the Interisti around the world. I hope that they’re enjoying this moment.
“Thank you to all those who have believed in me, and thank you to all those who have supported me over the past few years. I’d also like to thank all those who have put in the hard work to achieve this feat, and not just the team and coach.
Our objective was to lead Inter to trophy success again, and this is what we’ve done. The hope is that this joy and positive energy will continue for a hundred years.
“Winning the scudetto is all about the group: you don’t win it by coincidence. We’ve worked hard in the past five years.
“Conte has pushed all of us towards this objective, not just the players. He’s a great motivator, and we’ve managed to achieve this goal thanks to him in particular.”
Italian media have long speculated on whether Conte will remain at the club next season and the future of his players.
