PARIS — Qatar Sports Investments, the owners of French champions Paris Saint-Germain, are in negotiations over acquiring a stake in Italian club Sampdoria, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP.
QSI, whose president Nasser al-Khelaifi is also the president of PSG, has owned the French club since 2011, transforming a struggling outfit into one of the most powerful in Europe.
It also owns a 22 per cent stake in leading Portuguese side Braga and is hoping to further expand its footballing empire to create a “diverse portfolio”, the same source said.
The source said that QSI is hoping to acquire a “minority stake” in Sampdoria, the club from the Mediterranean port city of Genoa who are already condemned to relegation from Serie A with two games of this season remaining.
Sampdoria was one of Italy’s leading sides in the 1980s and early 1990s. They won Serie A in 1991 and were European Cup runners-up the following year, losing to Barcelona in the final.
The same source also confirmed that QSI are interested in investing in Brazilian club Santos, the former team of Pele and current PSG star Neymar, as well as Spanish outfit Malaga.
French publication L’Equipe has now claimed that QSI are in advanced negotiations to acquire Sampdoria in partnership with Radrizzani’s ASER Ventures.
The move would see Radrizzani take majority control of the club, with QSI attaining a minority investment.
It also claims that QSI ‘could be willing in the medium and long-term’ to invest in Leeds – who are hoping to avoid relegation like Sampdoria.
It has become increasingly commonplace in recent years for multiple clubs in different countries to be in the hands of the same owners.
Abu-Dhabi owned Manchester City is the flagship club of the City Football Group, which also owns La Liga side Girona, French club Troyes, Melbourne City and New York City FC, among other teams.
At the same time as expanding its portfolio, QSI is interested in opening up PSG to outside investment and is “examining different offers”, according to the same source, who claimed that US fund Arctos Sports Partners is “very enthusiastic about the idea of investing” in the French giants.
A stake in Sampdoria would be similar to the deal struck in November last year to acquire a minority stake in Portuguese outfit Braga.
QSI are also believed to be discussing an acquisition of Spanish side Malaga and a minority stake in Brazil outfit Santos as they look to build up their portfolio.
However, the Radrizzani and QSI bid for Sampdoria from current owner Massimo Ferrero faces competition from one other ‘serious competitor’ – though their identity has not been revealed.
Radrizzani was in Italy to try and help complete the takeover of Sampdoria.
Radrizzani is part of asset management fund Gestio Capital, who has lodged a bid to save Sampdoria from financial oblivion after they were relegated from Serie A.
The Italian media mogul was seen arriving at the crisis club’s training ground in Genoa on Sunday and answered ‘Let’s hope, fingers crossed’ when asked by local reporters if he was going to buy them.
Despite talks that QSI could look to invest in Leeds in the future, Elland Road chief Radrizzani has a deal in place to sell his majority stake to the 49ers Enterprises – but only if they stay in the Premier League.
Relegation complicates matters but the NFL franchise – who already own a 44 per cent stake – are understood to be keen on taking full control of the Whites even if they go down on Sunday.
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