Inter Milan and Pirelli to bring their £10m-a-year legendary shirt sponsorship deal to an end this season after 26 years with club’s owners Suning Group already desperate for ‘potential partners’ to ease their financial woes
- Inter Milan and Pirelli will bring their shirt sponsorship deal to an end this year
- The Italian tyre manufacturer has been present on Inter’s kits since 1995
- Deal is worth £10million-per-year and Inter are already looking for investment
- Owners Suning Group halted operations at its Chinese football clubs last week
Inter Milan and Pirelli will end their shirt sponsorship deal at the end of the season, bringing an end to one of football’s most iconic partnerships.
The logo of the Italian tyre manufacturer has been emblazoned across Inter shirts since the start of the 1995-96 season as the club has won multiple Serie A titles and the Champions League.
But their shirt sponsorship deal, worth around £10million-per-season plus bonuses will not be extended beyond the end of the season, Pirelli chief executive Marco Tronchetti Provera has announced.
Inter Milan and Pirelli will end their iconic shirt sponsorship deal at the end of the season
The logo of the Italian tyre manufacturer has been emblazoned across Inter shirts for 26 years – including for their Champions League win in 2010
‘We are in talks with (Alessandre) Antonello, (Beppe) Marotta (chief executives) and other Inter directors,’ he told Gr Parlamento.
‘We won’t be Inter’s kit sponsor anymore, but our relationship with the club will continue.’
Reports in Italy back in September revealed Chinese property development company Evergrande Group was an option to replace Pirelli.
It remains to be seen how the financial impact of the deal’s termination will affect Inter after their owners, Suning Group, halted operations at its Chinese football clubs due to financial jeopardy over the weekend.
An announcement from the company stated all of the clubs in its stable, including the recently-crowned Chinese Super League champions Jiangsu FC, would ‘cease operations’.
Suning is one of China’s largest retailers and also owns Inter – but now plans to focus on core businesses, which leaves its non-retail assets at risk.
Paul Ince (left) and Ronaldo (right) were both at the club when shirts were sponsored by Pirelli
Adriano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were other Inter stars to wear the iconic Pirelli kits for Inter
Suning Group, founded by Zhang Jindong (second from left), want to find ‘potential partners’
Inter were forced to reiterate Suning’s financial commitment to the club in a statement designed to reassure supporters.
‘As part of ongoing capital structure and liquidity management, the business and our ownership are in talks to provide a range of solutions in this respect,’ the club said.
‘While Suning have confirmed their commitment to financially support the club with or without additional external support, it is also sensible and prudent to look outside.
‘With that in mind, Suning appointed key advisers in Asia to work with them to find suitable partners, be that with an injection of equity capital or otherwise.
‘Talks with key potential partners in this respect remain ongoing.’