As Inter Milan deal nears, Chinese retail giant Suning eyes soccer empire

Customers look at products in the hall of a Suning Appliance shop in Beijing December 8, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

SHANGHAI: Chinese retail giant Suning Commerce Group Co Ltd, set to tie up a deal for Italian soccer club Inter Milan, is already eyeing bigger ambitions: controlling a global sports empire stretching from soccer clubs to online broadcasting. 

Suning and Inter Milan are due to make an announcement in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing on June 6, widely expected to confirm that Suning will buy a majority stake in the Italian soccer club.