“You should ask PIF” – Newcastle’s Staveley directly addresses ‘alleged interest’ in another club

Newcastle United chief Amanda Staveley has insisted the group behind the takeover at St James Park are not interested in Inter Milan.

Newcastle were bought by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund last year, having failed to do a deal the year before.

The Magpies are the first club to be bought by Saudi investors, who had initially been blocked from owning a club in the Premier League by the English authorities.

Since the takeover in the North East, there have been a constant slew of rumours that Newcastle may not be the only club they are interested in.

Reports in Italy have consistently claimed that talks have taken place over a deal for Inter Milan, whose current owners Suning are struggling financially and could be forced to sell.

The suggestion has been that PIF would look to buy the Italian champions as something of a partner club for Newcastle, starting a network of clubs similar to what Manchester City’s owners have done via the City Group.

Staveley, who has close ties to the group and was instrumental to them getting Newcastle, insists she is unaware of any efforts to buy Inter.

“I don’t think there’s any truth in it,” she told Calcio e Finanza.

“I don’t know where this rumour comes from that comes out from time to time, but in any case, you should ask PIF.”