Chinese invest in Italian soccer club(视频)_美文

Chinese invest in Italian soccer club(视频)

"The stadium now, costs the two teams something like 16 million [euros - about $20 million] each year, so for each club it's a rent of eight million euro [$10 million]," Rossi noted. "Obviously, this is money that 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 Moratti's choice of partners.

"It is definitely a well-chosen deal," said Giacomo della Vecchia, president of a nearby city's 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."

Mario, an 18-year-old student, also praised Moratti's choice.

"The European economy is in crisis, but there's much more stability in the economy of the East. This will help the team to grow and make fans happy."

Internazionale Milano was founded in 1908 after a schism within AC Milan about allowing foreigners to play. Gian Luca Rossi says the new deal is in character for the team.

"They said: 'No! Why can't 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.