Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta confirms. Oaktree is closely monitoring the NBA Europe project, though there have been no substantial updates in recent days. Something is moving for Italian and Milanese basketball, and now even the Nerazzurri are not hiding: "I know that Oaktree is interested in this project, that the NBA wants to bring their show to Europe and that Milan is one of the cities designated," the Nerazzurri's leader said, interviewed by Luca Guazzoni of Ansa during the video conference at the Milan stage of Motore Italia, the Milano Finanza roadshow. The topic is extremely hot, and Beppe Marotta absolutely doesn't want to turn this occasion into an off-field derby with AC Milan's owners. Quite the opposite: "It's purely hypothetical. I can guarantee that there's an exceptional relationship between RedBird and Oaktree."
In a significant development for the European sporting landscape, Inter Milan chairman and CEO Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed that the club’s owners, Oaktree Capital, are closely monitoring the NBA Europe project. Speaking via video conference at the Motore Italia roadshow organized by Milano Finanza, the 68-year-old executive addressed growing speculation regarding a potential off-field derby between Inter and AC Milan to secure a franchise in the NBA’s upcoming continental expansion.
He emphasized the ‘exceptional relationship’ between Inter’s owners and AC Milan’s RedBird Capital, noting that while he represents the club’s sporting interests, the NBA venture remains a strategic decision for ownership. “I have no updates or details,” Marotta stated. “I represent Inter, and this concerns the ownership. I know Oaktree is interested in this project, that the NBA wants to bring their show to Europe, and that Milan is among the cities targeted.”
Michael Rubin on Knicks fans: Knicks were a couple years ago, people thought they were always a team that was a joke and they pulled that together. Leon Rose, all those guys, they've done a great job. You got to give mad respect to what they've done. And by the way, Knicks fans are for real. I was last weekend I was at the Champion League finals sitting with the owner of PSG and I put out on my Instagram like US sports fans got to step it up and I think I had like 500 Knicks fans trying to kill me for just accusing them of not being good enough fans cuz I was giving the the PSG and Inter Milan fans props for being such crazy soccer fans and I think the Knicks fans were ready to kill me. Those fans are serious man. You guys are great fans.
Lasry indicated that he has no interest in purchasing a team from any other professional sport despite being recently linked to wanting to purchase Inter Milan, an Italian professional soccer club. He said he never had a discussion with Inter Milan, nor does he have any interest in purchasing the team. "Basketball to me was my first love," he said. "I think for me part of the joy of owning a team is actually going to a game."
Advertisement
Sacramento Kings co-owner Vivek Ranadive is among the parties interested in buying Inter from Suning. This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, who report that the US-based business executive and software engineer is considering a bid for the Nerazzurri, although he would consider Suning’s €1.2 billion valuation to be excessive.
What are your goals for this tryout? I mean, I’d say the goal should be to not embarrass yourself, but you’re famously really freaking good at soccer. Steve Nash: Well, I could definitely embarrass myself with those guys. The goal is to make the team. [Laughs.] The sub-goal is to not embarrass myself. I’m not under the illusion that I’m going to make the team. I’ve heard that some folks have asked you, in total seriousness, if you might make Inter Milan, and how that would impact your NBA career. Nash: Yeah, and I’m like … I don’t necessarily want to give up the joke, but it’s just an awesome opportunity, obviously. It’s great to promote this tournament.
After being put through a series of drills focusing on changes of direction, one-on-one situations and attacking movements as a team, Inter were joined by basketball legend Steve Nash as they rounded off their second workout in New Jersey with a match played on a shortened pitch. The LA Lakers star thus got the chance to show what he can do with his feet and he lived up to his reputation for being a handy footballer, slotting in comfortably alongside the Nerazzurri as they played the ball about at pace. Afterwards, Nash chatted to Walter Mazzarri and posed for souvenir photos.
Advertisement
Steve Nash believes Kobe Bryant is ahead of schedule in his recovery from Achilles' surgery, is hopeful that the Los Angeles Lakers will finally find the chemistry they lacked a year ago and is finding himself fueled by the memories of an injury-filled season. On Tuesday, however, basketball won't be his sport of choice. The two-time NBA MVP gets to become a soccer player again — if only briefly. The Lakers guard who grew up playing soccer and still has deep ties within the sport will have a tryout of sorts with Inter Milan, before the storied team opens play in the Guinness International Champions Cup tournament that's coming to the U.S. next week. The tournament features eight club teams from around the world, with a winner to be crowned in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Aug. 7. "It's a dream come true to get a chance to try out, not just to try out but to take the field with Inter Milan, one of the great, storied franchises in professional sports," Nash said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I feel like a little kid."