Inter Milan's Serie A title celebration was dampened by a 1-1 draw against Lazio at the San Siro on Sunday, as the champions prepare to lift the trophy amidst financial uncertainty.
Inter's title triumph was sealed weeks ago, but the trophy ceremony will take place against an uneasy backdrop. The club faces a major debt deadline of around 395 million euros ($429 million) to US fund Oaktree, which must be repaid by Tuesday. If Inter fails to meet this obligation, Oaktree could take control of the club, similar to how AC Milan was acquired by Elliott Management in 2016.
Inter's sporting CEO Giuseppe Marotta expressed optimism before the match, stating that the club was in a "solid" position. However, a banner in the stands read "Thanks Steven," referring to president Steven Zhang, suggesting that fans have doubts about Suning's future as owners.
On the pitch, Inter struggled to find their rhythm against a determined Lazio side. Daichi Kamada gave Lazio the lead in the 32nd minute, and Inter failed to respond until Denzel Dumfries equalized in the 87th minute.
The result was inconsequential for Inter's title hopes, but it highlighted the financial challenges facing the club. Inter has won seven trophies, including two Serie A titles, and reached two European finals since Suning acquired the club in 2016. However, the club's future is now uncertain as it grapples with its debt obligations.
In other Serie A action, Sassuolo's 11-year stay in the top flight came to an end after a 2-0 defeat to Cagliari. Udinese snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw with Empoli in the 14th minute of stoppage time, securing their Serie A status.
Tags: #InterMilan, #SerieA, #Lazio, #FinancialCrisis, #Oaktree
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