Inter eye investment from the UAE

The Inter Milan Village was launched at Marina Mall in the capital as the Italian club is looking to attract sponsors from the region.

ABU DHABI // Inter Milan are courting serious investment from the Emirates as the Italian club opens the door to offers from UAE investors. The club's executive director Ernesto Paolillo launched the Inter Milan Village at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi yesterday and said he was looking to attract sponsors from the region. "We think it is important to be here because for football it is an emerging country, then there is a lot of interest from sponsors coming from this region for international clubs," he said.

"We are really open to new sponsorship from important companies in this country. We want to improve the quality of our sponsors and there are very important sponsors in this region." The Inter Milan Village is the latest development in the Serie A club's existing partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), which allows thecountry's professional football clubs access to the coaching expertise of Inter's youth academy training staff.

"They are at the beginning of a very long running field. They have a lot to do," said Paolillo. "They are good because they understand that they have to improve, they understand that to develop football you cannot just take the best players from around the world and bring them here. "The best way is to let kids understand football and improve their skills." Coaches from Inter have taken part in coaching clinics in the capital over the past year, involving junior players and coaches from Al Ain, Al Jazira, Al Wahda, Baniyas and Al Dhafra.

From today more than 300 children aged from 7 to 14 will have the chance to show off their football skills at the Inter Milan Village. Youngsters attending the clinic, which runs until November 14, will be able to take part in training sessions and lectures from Inter Milan coaches. @Email:[e-mail]