Whether it is Arabs or Americans, thethe important thing is that you speak foreign. This seems to be the direction our Calcium, with a new potential buyer appearing on the horizon: the Italian-American entrepreneur Mario Gabelli, interested in thepurchase of Monza Calcio from the Berlusconi family.
With an estimated net worth of around $2 billion, Gabelli is in talks to buy a stake in the Brianza-based company, with the possibility of expanding his stake in the future. Although the discussions are still in a preliminary stage, this interest underlines the attractiveness of foreign capital for Italian football. Today, as many as ten Serie A teams (out of 20) belong to foreign owners, eight of which are American (Atalanta, Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter, Milan, Parma, Roma, Venezia) in addition to Bologna, Canadian, and Como, Indonesian.
Who is Mario Gabelli: a self-made man with Italian roots
Mario Joseph Gabelli was born in the Bronx, New York, to Italian parents originally from Solignano, in the province of Parma. In 1977 he Gamco Investors founded, a wealth management firm that currently manages $31 billion in assets. Considered a influential figure in the economic landscape American, Gabelli is famous for his ability to grow investors' capital. According to Forbes, the his personal assets is approaching $2 billion.
In recent months, Gabelli has shown a growing interest in Italian soccer, following the example of other American entrepreneurs such as Rocco Commisso (Fiorentina) and Dan Friedkin (Roma). Monza could represent aopportunities to diversify your investments. The negotiations with Fininvest, the Berlusconi family holding company, concern the acquisition of a minority stake, with the possibility of increasing it in the future.
Monza Sale: The Berlusconi Family's Position
Despite the negotiations, the Berlusconi family does not intend to give up control of Monza. A spokesperson for Fininvest confirmed that "the intention remains that of identify partners for the development of the company“. In the past, the Orienta Partners fund had already started negotiations to acquire a share of Monza, but the agreement did not materialize. Even now, the Berlusconi family appears to want to maintain an active role in the management of the club, taking advantage of the experience of a strategic partner.
Since Silvio Berlusconi bought Monza in 2018, the team has experienced remarkable growth, moving from Serie C to Serie A in less than four years, also thanks to the Guide by Adriano Galliani. Significant investments have been made to modernize the U-Power stadium and the “Luigi e Silvio Berlusconi-Monzello” sports center.
Other possible acquisitions: eyes on Empoli and Genoa and Milan
In addition to Monza, other Italian teams too I am at the center of major changes concerning the properties. The Genoa, currently controlled by the American group 777 Partners, is for sale and options for a total or partial sale are being evaluated. The company is in a difficult financial situation, with the main backer, A-Cap, pushing to liquidate its investments in the 777 Partners fund.
On the other hand, theEmpoli presents a more stable situation. The Corsi family has controlled the club for over thirty years and, after the approval of the restyling project of the Castellani stadium, the Tuscan club (also thanks to its good performances in Serie A) has gained greater attractiveness. However, the owner Fabrizio Corsi has made it clear that he has no intention of completely giving up control, instead seeking a strategic partner to support the growth of the club.
And then there is the Milan questionThe club is not currently for sale, but Gerry Cardinal, owner of RedBird with 96% of the shares, is looking for new investorsThe goal is to repay the 693 million euros owed to the Elliott fund and finance the new stadium.
