Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has confirmed that he is in talks to sell his controlling stake in the club to Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir.
The 68-year-old, who took over from Ernesto Pellegrini in 1995, said that the club needs a complete reshuffling in order to maximise revenue and compete with their rivals.
Some, including former president Pellegrini, have voiced their opposition to the move, believing that that the club should not be sold to a foreign owner.
However, Moratti insists that he is acting in the Nerazzurri's best interests.
"Nostalgia is by definition behind you and I decided to look to the future," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Inter have similar debts to other big clubs and I am not worried about those, as I could easily continue covering it myself.
"The real problem is revenue. I am worried about the future of the club. For years Italian football - and I take my share of the blame here - won on the field in Europe, but played entirely on home turf in financial terms - and we lost.
"Inter are worth so much more than what their revenue suggests and have to make the most of the brand internationally if the club wants a future in line with its tradition. Believe me, I am acting in the interests of the fans. If needed, I will remain to give my contribution, but please let's not make me into a myth. Presidents as symbols can become a blockage at some point."
If the deal goes through, then Inter will become the second Italian club after Roma to be in the hands of a foreign owner.
Michael Penkman
