Former Sampdoria, Juventus and
Italy star Gianluca Vialli is in talks to take over the Genoa
club where he sprang to fame.
A US group led by Vialli and Samp Chairman Massimo Ferrero
signed a letter of intent on Thursday in which they said they
would conduct exclusive talks until rthe end of September on
buying the club.
"Holding Max SrL, the Ferrero family investment vehicle, has
signed a letter of intent with CalcioInvest, LLC
(led by Gianluca Vialli, James Dinan and Alex Knaster) in
relation to the purchase of U.C. Sampdoria SpA, prestigious
Serie A club", the Samp owner's group said in a a statement to
ANSA.
Former Chelsea boss and Juventus and Italy star Vialli could
become president of Sampdoria, the Serie A club he led to the
scudetto as striker in 1992, if the deal between owner and film
producer Massimo Ferrero and the US fund goes through, sources
close to the possible deal said.
The former Chelsea star was earlier said to be wavering
between the prospect of chairing his old club and an offer from
the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) to work with his former
'goal twin' Roberto Mancini, the former Samp and Lazio striker
and ex-Man City and Inter boss who is now Italy coach.
The deal might eventually see President Ferrero let go of
100% of the Samp shares, should a final agreement be reached.
The 67-year-old, who took over Sampdoria in 2014, values the
club at no less than 100m, which seems to be a reasonable price
for the American fund.
Currently, there are two clubs in the league with American
owners: AC Milan and Roma, who are owned by Elliott management
and Neep Roma Holding respectively.
Vialli recently said he was in remission from cancer.
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