1、MILAN A group of Chinese investors is set to become the second-biggest stakeholder in an Italian soccer club, Milans team Internazionale. With Europes continuing economic troubles, fans say they are excited about the deal bringing more financial security and a new stadium, built by Chinas second-big
2、gest construction company.Internazionale Milan, one of Italys most famous teams, has played in the countrys top league, Serie A, since its founding in 1908.Massimo Moratti, the team president and main shareholder, recently announced an $87-million deal with a group of Chinese investors for 15 percen
3、t of the teams shares.Sports commentator Gian Luca Rossi says Morattis primary business in oil drilling and refining was hit hard by the political upheaval in Libya. Those losses, as well as the deepening of the economic crisis in Europe made it more difficult for him to fund the prestigious but les
4、s profitable soccer team.The dramatic thing here is that fans think that a poor country can still have a rich soccer, noted Rossi.Rossi adds that Moratti had been looking for investment from Asia for at least two years.From what I gathered talking to Moratti recently, the idea of not having to be al
5、one in writing checks for 20, 30, 50 million is something that gives him his breath back, and makes him look at the future with great optimism, said Rossi.As part of the deal, a new stadium in Milan will replace the San Siro venue, which is shared with Inters rival team AC Milan. The stadium will be
6、 built by the state-owned China Railway Construction Corporation as its first project in Europe.The stadium now, costs the two teams something like 16 million euros - about $20 million each year, so for each club its a rent of eight million euro $10 million, Rossi noted. Obviously, this is money tha
7、t should be spent elsewhere, for a club that is supposed to be making important buys to stay competitive.As fans gathered in Milan for the first match of the Italian championship, most were happy about Morattis choice of partners.It is definitely a well-chosen deal, said Giacomo della Vecchia, presi
8、dent of a nearby citys Interclub. Because nowadays there can be no tycoon, like in the past, that completely sponsors a team and uniquely shoulders all the expenses. It is a modern thing and I think it should be done.Internazionale Milano was founded in 1908 after a schism within AC Milan about allo
9、wing foreigners to play. Gian Luca Rossi says the new deal is in character for the team.They said: No! Why cant a soccer team have foreign players? We will create one ourselves. From that they chose the name International. So the idea of being opened up to the outside has always been there, Rossi said.The new stadium is expected by 2017.
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