Sampdoria have been saved from the threat of total collapse. Club patron Massimo Ferrero has sold the Blucerchiati to Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani, as the Milan-born football magnate adds the Genoa-based club to his portfolio. Radrizzani will work in cohorts with partner and Gestio Capital co-founder Matteo Manfredi in running the club from the 2023/24 season.
In an official press release, Sampdoria have announced that the transfer of club operations to the Radrizzani-Manfredi duo. After a long rendezvous at the Corte Lambruschini headquarters in Genoa, it was declared that the club shareholders approved for a capital increase of upto €40M, in line with the amount required to restructure the club from the bottom-up.
BREAKING: Sampdoria have been SOLD to Radrizzani ?
Ferrero has accepted the offer to sell the club, however, they were not able to strike a deal prior to the deadline to pay the back salaries owed, so Sampdoria will start Serie B next season with a -4 points penalty ?
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The move will inadvertently save the Blucerchiati from bankruptcy, in time to rescue the club’s coffers ahead of the 20 June deadline to register to play in Serie B next season. The injection of capital will mean that Sampdoria can now rest easy, knowing that they will be bailed out of the €30M in arrears.
Sampdoria have not met several expenses this season, including player salaries, staff payments, income tax and other debts, especially with regard to the transfer market.
Ferrero declared the sale to the microphones of Telenord (via Tuttomercatoweb).
“It wasn’t a negotiation, they led me to think from the heart. I didn’t take any money, I didn’t take anything. I did it for the people, for the people’s salaries and for the fans because this story had to end.”
He wished Radrizzani good luck going forward.
“Radrizzani is a respectable person, who I know well. I wish him good luck.”
Sampdoria will end the season at the bottom of the Serie A table, with just 19 points from their 37 outings so far. They will look to bounce back under the new management next season in Serie B.
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