AS Roma is poised to become the first American owned club in Italy. In England, four clubs are already American owned, even before the completion of the Arsenal takeover.
AS Roma is poised to become the first American owned club in Italy. In England, four clubs are already American owned, even before the completion of the Arsenal takeover.
A group of American investors has agreed to buy a 67 per cent stake in the club and will make a mandatory buyout offer for the rest of the club. A newly created company, 60 per cent controlled by a group led by Boston Red Sox partner Thomas DiBenedetto and 40 per cent by bank UniCredit is paying €60.3m for a two-thirds share of the club.
Roma was put up for sale in July because the controlling Sensi family ran up debt of more than €300m with Milan-based Unicredit. The bank agreed to swap debt for equity and jointly owns a 67 per cent stake in the team with the Sensi family’s oil company, Italpetroli. The deal requires regulatory approval.
The club has won the Italian title three times, the last time in 2001. Italian football is not as lucrative as the English version and capital appreciation which attracts investors like Stan Kroenke is less assured. However, if the deal goes ahead, it will represent a new phase in the finances of top flight football in Italy.