Marcello Lippi spoke with Gazzetta dello Sport regarding the Chinese investment. The former Guangzhou Evergrande coach (2012-2014) said: “I feel perplexity for the arrival of Chinese rich men in Serie A but I don’t understand why. What do they have different from Arabs, Americans, Russians? Inter and Milan supporters should not worry. There will arrive ambitious entrepreneurs who maybe could also buy great champions. They search international visibility. I remember that one day Xu Jiayin, Guangzhou leader, during our first meeting asked me: “How much time do we need to arrive at Juve, Milan and Inter level”, I answered: “A little” And I remember he was crazy of joy when our team became first in Asian ranking. To be ahead to Japanese, Korean and Australian football was source of pride.”
How does a coach work with these great person?
“Very well, they never intervene in technical choices. Maybe they have strange ideas, my president when we played away wanted lo leave 3-4 days before match, sometimes also one week. And he was surprised when I said him that with a 2 hours flight we could leave also only the day before”.
Did you expect this Chinese “invasion”?
“No, these great rich men don’t want to enter in Italian football only for a whim. They have a great project. They are ready to spend a lot of money to earn more in other ways. Think only about how many Inter shirts Suning could sell in China. Idem for Milan. They want also let Chinese football to grow”.
Do you have an advice to give them?
“No they are great entrepreneurs and they know how to move. Surely they will ask help to people who know the clubs, the sense of belonging must be defended.”
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport
