Nike Money Pushing Inter Towards Ronaldinho?With Inter having signed a new ten-year deal with Nike, Massimo Moratti has money to spend. His target: Ronaldinho...
In what is yet another example of financial and marketing power dictating matters football, Inter are supposedly ready to splash the cash on Ronaldinho.
Italian sports daily Tuttosport claims that armed by the Nike deal, Inter president Massimo Moratti is looking to bring the unsettled Barcelona ace to the club as part of the Nerazzurri's centenary celebrations.
AC Milan's interest in the Brazilian superstar is said to have cooled, but as Chelsea are still interested, Moratti could face some competition.
However, a new Nike sponsorship deal - lasting ten years - has given Inter the financial means to offer an attractive package to the Brazilian, who may in any case welcome a move to Italy depending on how the rest of his season goes at Camp Nou.
Of late, Italian clubs have fallen behind in the marketing sense, unable to match the global pull of the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal, and Moratti is interested in correcting that.
What is more, the Brazilian practically pays his own salary, and more, so apart from the one time transfer fee that the Nike deal can finance, Inter will not have to spend a penny on the player.
Neither Barcelona nor Inter have yet to comment on this speculation, but Tuttosport claim that Inter coach Roberto Mancini is also keen on the switch due to the aging nature of his current front line, particularly Hernan Crespo and Julio Cruz, who are both now on the wrong side of 30.
Ronaldinho missed out on his side's 0-0 draw with Sevilla last night, and has yet to feature for Barcelona after he was humiliated following the El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid.
Nike also have a close relationship with Barcelona, it must be noted. However, Ronaldinho is no longer the runaway leader in terms of marketability as Thierry Henry and Samuel Rto'o, but most importantly Lionel Messi, move up the ladder. A move might just be the best option for all four parties involved.
goal.com