Roma’s Game Against Bologna Called Off, But The Club’s Sale Is Very Much On
For Claudio Ranieri’s capital side, the inability to complete their game against Bologna could not have been more inopportune. Not only did other Scudetto contenders capitalize on Roma’s absence on the weekend- Inter notably won in Giampaolo Pazzini’s debut, for example, and are now tied on points with La Giallorossa – but the game is tentatively rescheduled for Ferbruary 23/34: right in the middle of a very busy time for I Lupi, forcing the team to play 5 games in 12 days. Snow suspended the match mere minutes into it, but the focus for the past week has on been on the very active transfer market for the capital side.
Unlike other clubs, however, Roma are not in the business of buying. Or rather, in the business of buying players; it’s the club itself that is waiting to be bought. Unicredit had taken control of Roma from the Sensi family when it became clear that their debt was a financial hindrance to both the company and to the club itself. Many dates had been set for bids to come in from prospective owners, but only the most recent- due on January 31st- led to any concrete interest.
Roma went from zero bids on the past deadline dates to a whopping five on the last day of the January transfer window. The most hopeful of them all seems to come from an American group of investors led by Thomas R. Benedetto, president of investment management firm Boston International Group and also a partner at New England Sports Ventures (The very same group which recently acquired Liverpool). It was reported that his group sought a one hundred and thirty million quid bid for the club in an effort to become full owners. However, upon hearing the news that the club may fall out of Italian hands, Italian Entrepreneur Giampolo Angelucci stepped up his desire in the club and a bidding war seemed inevitable.
Between the two consortiums, most Romanisti would undoubtedly prefer the first. The NESV, although not directly tied to the Roma bid, have shown that Bostonians have spending power and might this past transfer window, leading Liverpool to acquire both Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll for exorbitant fees. Furthermore, Angelucci has ties with Luciano Moggi and has a rather suspect record with the Italian government. Benedetto’s bid thus seem to have the upper hand according to early reports.
But the biding process will take a while to review, as three other groups have placed concrete interest in the club as well. One is European in origin and rumored to be from France, but early rumblings from the Roma camp suggest it has already been brushed aside as the least likely of the five to succeed. The final two are, rather unsurprisingly given the rise of clubs like Manchester City, Arabic. One hails from an unknown source whilst the other is attributed to the Aabar Fund, rumored to have submitted a bit of one hundred and fifty million quid for the club.
The next step for Romanisti is, agonizingly, to wait. Unicredit and the Sensis must now review each bid, not only for financial stability but to determine whether or not each prospective owner has the club’s interests at heart- a point that Rosella Sensi in particular seems determined to uphold.
Nevertheless, these remain exciting times at Roma. Not only are the club in contention for three trophies yet, but a new landmark in its history seems mere weeks, if not days, from occurring. Under a new owner Roma should be free of the financial constraint that has limited the club’s growth in the past. Although the transfer window has just shut and most focus is upon new player arrivals, Serie A as a whole would do well to watch what happens to I Lupi.
