US group inks deal to buy Italian soccer club AS Roma

April 16, 2011 | 11:19

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A group of American investors led by Boston-based private equity tycoon Thomas DiBenedetto have signed a highly anticipated deal to buy Italian soccer club Roma.

"The deal is done," DiBenedetto said at a press conference after completing the formalities along with Paolo Fiorentino, vice president of Unicredit bank.

Unicredit last year became co-owner of the cash-strapped club and will have a share of the new ownership company.

The deal, which must be approved by financial regulators, makes three-time champions Roma the first Serie A club with a foreign majority owner.

DiBenedetto told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper earlier this month that his aim was to make Roma "one of the top teams in the world".

Roma are currently sixth in the Serie A, 15 points behind leaders AC Milan.

DiBenedetto told the newspaper he wanted to put the club on financially sound footing and also wanted "a club capable of winning the scudetto (Italian league title) every year and to be finally competitive in the Champions League".

DiBenedetto is no stranger to European football as a partner of New England Sports Ventures, who own the Boston Red Sox and last year bought English team Liverpool.

AFP

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