Etihad Airways deflate Inter sponsorship rumors

Lately, the rumor mill has linked Inter with a new sponsorship deal - one involving United Arab Emirates' giant Etihad Airways becoming the team's primary sponsor.

Gazzetta dello Sport reported this morning that Ethiad Airways have denied those rumors, saying that they currently have nothing in place with the Nerazzurri. The airline also denied suggestions that the two parties are in the process of completing a deal at all, saying the rumors were without foundation.

That's not to say that the deal won't happen eventually, though, as other reports have claimed that the negotiations are progressing, with the Nerazzurri set to earn €125 million over a five-year period.

If it is indeed still on the table, Inter President Erick Thohir will be eager to push it through. While the final figure may not be as high as the one reported above, Thohir would like to get a deal in place which will see his club compete in earnings with Inter's biggest Serie A rivals - Juventus and AC Milan - who each pocket around €17 million a year from their respective deals with Fiat and Fly Emirates.