The Italian football market has become an attractive market for US investors as Serie C side Cesena are the latest Italian club to have come under new ownership by Americans. As reported by Sky Sport Italia, Cesena has been acquired by New York-based attorney and private equity manager Robert Lewis.
The lawyer has acquired a 60% stake by parting with €1.8m to gain majority ownership at the Emilia Romagna-based club. John Aiello, his co-partner will head the club as the co-president, whereas Lewis himself with be the club’s new CEO.
Inizia una nuova era per il Cesena FC, che dà il benvenuto a Robert Lewis e John Aiello ??
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— Cesena F.C. (@calciocesenafc) December 20, 2021
Cesena went bankrupt and folded in 2018, with the new club renaming itself as Cesena F.C, from the previous A.C. Cesena name.
There are now 11 clubs across Italy’s professional leagues under American ownership – with six of them in Serie A (Milan, Roma, Fiorentina, Genoa, Spezia, Venezia), three in Serie B (Ascoli, Parma, SPAL) and two in Serie C (Campobasso, Cesena).
Complicated financial circumstances have prompted clubs in Italy to suffer due to the inconveniences caused by the two-year long pandemic. Cesena will now hope to gain promotion and emerge back into Serie B settings.
The club currently sit third in the third-tier’s Group B, with 39 points after 19 matchdays and closely trailing Reggiana and Modena, who both sit six points ahead in first and second place respectively.
Cesena last appeared in Serie A in 2014/15.