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American Money & Future Of Italian Football: A Clash of Cultures?
Are the growing American investment in Italian football a blessing or a curse? This article explores the potential dangers of private equity ownership and calls for a united front to protect the soul of the beautiful game.
The attractiveness of Wall Street investment in Serie A, Italy’s top football league, is fading.
What was once seen as a potential lifeline for struggling clubs is now viewed with growing distrust.
Venezia FC’s recent promotion to Serie A under an American Billionaire ownership and the recent takeover of Inter Milan by California based Private Equity Oaktree Capital, have increased concerns about the incentive behind these financial billionaires running Italian football teams.
Is this a blessing or a curse for Italian football? In the case of Inter Milan it could be a curse if a quick sale materializes.
Private Equity (PE) firms like Oaktree Capital are not known for any romantic attachments to assets.
PE objective is to maximize profits, often through short-term strategies that prioritize financial gain over long-term sustainability.
They typically buy companies at low value, make management and operational changes to increase their value. Then sell them quickly…
