Inter’s Champions League struggles could come at a heavy financial cost, with failure to reach the last 16 potentially forcing the sale of a key player.
According to Tuttosport, owners Oaktree see the last 16 as the only acceptable outcome. Tuesday’s 4-3 home defeat to Club Brugge, a second straight loss after the opener against Real Madrid, has raised fears of another trip through the play-offs. The club’s accounts, approved this week with a second consecutive profit, show what is at stake.
Bodø/Glimt exit cost Inter €63m
Inter earned just under €74m in UEFA prize money last season, when they were knocked out by Bodø/Glimt. The year before, when Simone Inzaghi’s side reached the final, they earned almost €137m. That is a drop of around €63m, before gate receipts are counted.
Reaching the last 16, even via the play-offs, is worth an estimated €18-20m. European success has allowed Inter to avoid major sales for two summers, and missing out could make losing a big name hard to avoid.
The fixture list does offer hope. Cristian Chivu’s side face Shakhtar Donetsk, Feyenoord and Stuttgart next, before visiting Dortmund, hosting Liverpool and finishing away to Slovan Bratislava. Based on the last two seasons, 16 points should secure a top-eight finish.