Kieran Maguire: Newcastle may no longer be priority for PIF after ‘perplexing’ Italy news
It is possible that Newcastle United may no longer be the priority for the Saudi Public Investment Fund if they acquire Inter Milan.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about a dramatic report concerning PIF and the Serie A giants.
The International Business Times claimed on Tuesday (28 December) that a deal for PIF to purchase a majority stake in Inter is all but done.
It has been just three months since PIF took control of Newcastle in a seismic £305million takeover from previous owner Mike Ashley.
In a verdict that will frighten the Toon Army, Maguire admitted he was at a loss as to how a multi-club network could operate with both Inter and Newcastle at the helm.
“I am slightly perplexed by this,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“What we have seen in multi-club operations is that there is always something of a mothership.
“For City Football Group, that’s Man City. As far as Tony Bloom is concerned, that’s Brighton. For Brentford’s owners, it’s Brentford.
“The logic behind multi-club operations is that it helps to de-risk things, but things do tend to be focused on one of those clubs.
“For PIF to own a club like Inter, there has to be a priority. I think that would be quite challenging for them.
“You have that awkward situation where if money is spent on both of those clubs, they could meet in European competitions.
“We have seen Red Bull clubs circumvent the rules, but there would be a lot of scepticism if they did face each other in senior European competition.
“But it’s a nice problem to have because you’ve got to get there first.”
Newcastle are currently 19th in the Premier League.
Inter meanwhile, who won last season’s Scudetto at a canter, are four points clear at the top of Serie A.
In other news, La Liga expert can’t believe Newcastle Untied could sign Samuel Umtiti in January after £17m update.