Italian Serie A giants Inter Milan signed an exclusive
partnership with leading Chinese portal Sina yesterday to promote
its new Chinese-language website.
Under the new deal, Sina will translate Inter football for
Chinese fans on Inter.sina.com.cn, including the latest club news
and photos, live scores, match reports, in-depth statistics and
player profiles.
Inter brand president Angelomario Moratti, son of the club's
owner Massimo Moratti was in Beijing yesterday to sign the
deal.
"I am happy to visit Beijing, we have lots of supports in China.
So we decided to develop the club's influence in China. It is a
good start from here in a long term," he said.
Inter is one of the most popular clubs among Chinese fans and
the website is expected to attract more fans. To promote its new
business venture, fans will have the opportunity to win a trip to
Milan, have dinner with the team and watch them train.
The Inter Milan Club will regularly organize activities for
Chinese football fans.
Moratti said the club wanted further develop the Chinese
market.
"Over the past few years, we have received invitations for
cooperation from China time and again,"
"We are sure that the strategic cooperation with Sina Internet
will increase Inter Milan's influence in China, strengthen the
exchanges between the Inter Milan Football Club and the local
Chinese football community, and realize the objective of reaching
Chinese football fans."
Moratti also had words of praise for Wang Dalei and Zhang
Wenzhao, two Chinese football players who had received training at
the Inter Milan last month.
"They are gifted football players with great potential. I
sincerely hope there will be more Chinese players going to Milan
for training."
(China Daily September 27, 2006)