Hong Kong investors ready to purchase Thohir's 31 pct stake in Inter Milan

Hong Kong investors are ready to purchase Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir's 31 per cent stake in Italian club Inter Milan, according to reports in Italy on Saturday. The Chinese Suning Commerce Group purchased a controlling 68.55 per cent stake in Inter in 2016. Thohir had remained as president with 31 per cent, but Gazzetta Dello Sport and Sky Sports Italia are reporting that his stake is close to passing into the hands of an unnamed fund in Hong Kong.

Sky Italia said the fund is close to the Suning Holdings Group of Inter Milan's majority shareholder Zhang Jindong. Negotiations are believed to be at an advanced stage and could be finalised within weeks. Gazzetta Dello Sport reported "the operation was well underway but not at the point of signatures". Inter Milan have not won a Serie A title since 2010 when Jose Mourinho coached them to an historic treble including the Champions League. The club are currently third in Serie A -- 14 points behind leaders Juventus.

(With inputs from agencies.)