Inter Milan failed to pay first instalment of Hakimi's £36m transfer fee

Inter Milan have not paid the first instalment of their payments to Real Madrid for Achraf Hakimi as the club battles to stave off financial oblivion.

Morocco international full-back Hakimi completed a £36million move from the Bernabeu to the San Siro back in July, with the first payment of around £9m expected last month.

But Inter were unable to pay the money and an agreement was reached to postpone the payment until March 30.

But Inter's owners, the Suning Group, are in financial turmoil amid the Covid-19 pandemic and players have not been receiving their wages.

Owner Steven Zhang is looking for outside investment and is in negotiations with the English fund BC Partners, who are analysing the club's accounts.

The cashflow issues led the players not receiving their wages and, according to La Repubblica, this led to discussions with the Inter board on Saturday.

The club assured them the outstanding wages for July and August will be paid before February 16 to stave off the threat of sanctions. But the players are also owed for November and December.

Hakimi, 22, is enjoying a fine first season at Inter, with six goals and five assists in all competitions for a team who sit second in Serie A ahead of their showdown with Juventus on Sunday night.

But while Real have granted an extension to the deadline for the first Hakimi payment, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Spanish club have financial needs of their own and will be forced to ask for two instalments in March.

Though Zinedine Zidane regrets letting Hakimi, who spent the last two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund, leave the club, there is no possibility of him returning to Real.