By Mark Baber
February 17 – Milan’s Internationale and Pirelli are on the verge of signing a new three-year deal to extend their 20 year partnership, according to Italian reports.
The new agreement, which comes after both parties had suggested the relationship might come to an end, is expected to be worth a minimum of €10 million a season (in comparison with the current one reportedly worth €14 million a season) but also includes large bonuses for the Milan club based on results – potentially doubling in the (highly unlikely) event Inter win the Champions League in the next three years.
Inter currently sit in 5th position in Serie A, having lost a crucial 6 pointer against Fiorentina at the weekend, meaning they are now four points off a Champions League place and facing a battle against cross-town rivals AC Milan for a place in the Europa League next season.
The importance of Inter playing European football was emphasised by Pirelli president Marco Tronchetti Provera last May when he delivered a warning to the club, saying, “Without cups it does not make sense for Pirelli to continue the sponsorship,” and insisting that “Pirelli-Inter? Football is a vehicle of great importance worldwide. If Inter are relegated to national football it makes no sense for Pirelli to continue.”
If the deal is confirmed, it may also be seen as somewhat of a disappointment for the club’s Indonesian owners and president Erick Thohir in their attempts to find more lucrative sponsorship, particularly given reports at the end of 2015 which suggested the club was on the verge of signing a new shirt sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways worth €125 million over five years.
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