Inter Milan president asks Serie A title winning squad to give up wages for two months

Inter Milan president Steven Zhang has confirmed the club are in a serious financial situation and will ask his title-winning players to take a two-month wage freeze

Inter Milan celebrated a historic moment in last-week's Serie A victory but now the players will face a difficult proposition after being asked to give up two months of their wages.

Antonio Conte's Inter ended the dominant nine-year reign of Juventus by claiming their first Scudetto since 2010.

But the Nerrazzurri have been short on finances due to the unpredictable coronavirus pandemic and the club's owner Steven Zhang is proposing a two-month wage freeze to reduce costs by 20 percent.

Zhang, a chief executive of Chinese real estate company Suning Holdings, had a 45-minute meeting with the team on Monday to discuss his proposal which intends to help aid a £230million rescue package.

Steven Zhang helped Suning Holdings acquire Inter Milan in 2016 (Image: Getty)

Zhang's strategy, if the players go along with it, could save the club £25million.

Various reports in Italy suggest that the players are unlikely to accept these circumstances with Zhang set to hold individual meetings next week.

The club decided to cancel Antonio Conte's press conference previewing the Roma game after the news was confirmed.

However, Inter's CEO Beppe Marotta confirmed the club will honour the performance bonuses agreed for winning the Serie A title.

Inter Milan have won their first Serie A title since 2010

He said: “I can confirm the Scudetto bonuses will be paid, as they were earned and the club recognises that. For the rest, it's about taking a snapshot of where football is right now.

"There is no diktat from the club, we just want to work with the players and appeal to their conscience during this difficult moment for all of European and global football."