Cessione Sampdoria: The End of an Era and the Start of a New One

Sampdoria is one of the most historic and prestigious clubs in Italian football, with a glorious past and a passionate fan base. However, in recent years, the club has faced financial and sporting difficulties, due to the mismanagement and controversies of its former owner, Massimo Ferrero. In May 2023, after years of rumors and negotiations, Ferrero finally sold the club to a new ownership group, led by Andrea Radrizzani and Matteo Manfredi, two successful entrepreneurs with a vision and a project for the future of Sampdoria. In this blog post, I will explain the details of the cessione sampdoria, the profiles of the new owners, and the expectations and challenges that they face.

The Details of the Cessione Sampdoria

The cessione sampdoria was a complex and long-awaited operation, that involved several parties and aspects. The main actors of the deal were:

• Massimo Ferrero: The former owner of Sampdoria, who bought the club in 2014 from the Garrone family, after the death of the legendary president Riccardo Garrone. Ferrero, a film producer and a controversial figure, initially brought enthusiasm and results to the club, leading it to qualify for the Europa League in 2015. However, he soon revealed his lack of competence and transparency, accumulating debts and scandals, and alienating the fans and the institutions. He was also accused of fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering, and was under investigation by the authorities. He was forced to sell the club to avoid bankruptcy and legal consequences.
• Andrea Radrizzani: The leader of the new ownership group, who acquired 70% of the shares of Sampdoria. Radrizzani is a 49-year-old businessman, who made his fortune in the media and sports industry. He is the founder and CEO of Aser Ventures, a global investment company that owns Eleven Sports, a sports streaming platform that operates in 12 countries. He is also the former owner of Leeds United, a historic English club that he bought in 2017 and led back to the Premier League in 2020, after 16 years of absence. He sold his majority stake in Leeds to the Qatari fund QSI, but remained as a minority shareholder and chairman. He is also a friend and partner of Matteo Manfredi, with whom he launched the “Project Sun”, a fund that invests in sports and entertainment assets.
• Matteo Manfredi: The co-owner of Sampdoria, who acquired 30% of the shares of the club. Manfredi is a 44-year-old financier, who is the founder and CEO of Gestio Capital, a multi-family office that manages the wealth of high-net-worth individuals and families. He is also a friend and partner of Andrea Radrizzani, with whom he launched the “Project Sun”, a fund that invests in sports and entertainment assets. He is also the president of the board of directors of Sampdoria, and the main representative of the club.

The cessione sampdoria costed over 190 million euros, of which 100 million euros were paid to Ferrero to buy the shares of the club, and 90 million euros were used to cover the debts and liabilities of the club. The deal was finalized on May 31, 2023, after months of negotiations and due diligence. The deal was also approved by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), who verified the financial and ethical requirements of the new owners.

The Profiles of the New Owners

The new owners of Sampdoria are not only successful and wealthy entrepreneurs, but also passionate and knowledgeable football fans, who have a vision and a project for the future of the club. They have declared their intention to make Sampdoria a modern and competitive club, that can aspire to return to the top of Italian and European football, while respecting its history and its identity. They have also expressed their respect and gratitude to the fans and the city of Genoa, and their willingness to collaborate with the institutions and the stakeholders.

Andrea Radrizzani is the leader of the new ownership group, and the main investor in the club. He is a visionary and ambitious businessman, who has a proven track record in the media and sports industry. He is the founder and CEO of Aser Ventures, a global investment company that owns Eleven Sports, a sports streaming platform that operates in 12 countries. He is also the former owner of Leeds United, a historic English club that he bought in 2017 and led back to the Premier League in 2020, after 16 years of absence. He sold his majority stake in Leeds to the Qatari fund QSI, but remained as a minority shareholder and chairman. He is also a friend and partner of Matteo Manfredi, with whom he launched the “Project Sun”, a fund that invests in sports and entertainment assets.

Radrizzani is a fan of Sampdoria since he was a child, and he has always admired the club and its players, such as Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Mancini, and Attilio Lombardo. He has also a personal connection with the city of Genoa, where he lived for a few years when he was young, and where he met his wife, Francesca. He has stated that buying Sampdoria was a dream come true, and that he wants to make the club a source of pride and joy for the fans and the city. He has also stated that he wants to build a long-term project, based on three pillars: a strong and stable management, a smart and sustainable financial strategy, and a competitive and attractive sporting model.

Matteo Manfredi is the co-owner of Sampdoria, and the president of the board of directors of the club. He is a skilled and experienced financier, who is the founder and CEO of Gestio Capital, a multi-family office that manages the wealth of high-net-worth individuals and families. He is also a friend and partner of Andrea Radrizzani, with whom he launched the “Project Sun”, a fund that invests in sports and entertainment assets.

Manfredi is not a fan of Sampdoria, but he has a professional and rational approach to the club. He has stated that he sees Sampdoria as a great opportunity, and that he wants to make the club a profitable and successful business, while respecting its values and its culture. He has also stated that he wants to work closely with Radrizzani, and with the other stakeholders, such as the fans, the sponsors, the media, and the institutions. He has also stated that he wants to be the main representative of the club, and to be present and active in the daily operations of the club.

The Expectations and Challenges of the New Owners

The new owners of Sampdoria have inherited a club that has a glorious past, but also a troubled present. The club has been struggling in the last seasons, both on and off the pitch, due to the poor management and the scandals of Ferrero. The club has also been relegated to the Serie B, the second division of Italian football, for the first time since 2012, after finishing last in the Serie A in the 2022/23 season. The club has also lost the trust and the support of the fans and the city, who have been protesting and boycotting the club for years.

The new owners of Sampdoria have the expectation and the challenge to turn the club around, and to restore its prestige and its popularity. They have the expectation and the challenge to bring the club back to the Serie A, and to compete for the European spots, as the club did in the past. They have the expectation and the challenge to invest in the club, and to improve its infrastructure, its staff, and its squad. They have the expectation and the challenge to reconnect with the fans and the city, and to create a positive and constructive atmosphere around the club.

The new owners of Sampdoria have already started to work on their project, and to show their commitment and their enthusiasm. They have appointed a new general manager, Marco Fassone, a former executive of Inter, Milan, and Napoli, who has a vast experience and a solid reputation in the football industry. They have also appointed a new coach, Roberto De Zerbi, a young and talented manager, who has impressed with his style and his results at Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk. They have also signed several new players, such as Gianluca Scamacca, Mattia Caldara, and Alessandro Florenzi, who have added quality and experience to the squad. They have also launched a new communication and marketing strategy, based on social media and digital platforms, to reach and engage the fans and the public.

Conclusion

Sampdoria is a club that has undergone a major change in ownership, management, and vision, after years of crisis and decline. The new owners, Andrea Radrizzani and Matteo Manfredi, have brought hope and ambition to the club, and have started to work on a long-term project, based on three pillars: a strong and stable management, a smart and sustainable financial strategy, and a competitive and attractive sporting model. They have also shown their respect and gratitude to the fans and the city of Genoa, and their willingness to collaborate with the institutions and the stakeholders. The new owners face the expectation and the challenge to bring the club back to the Serie A, and to compete for the European spots, as the club did in the past. They also face the expectation and the challenge to reconnect with the fans and the city, and to create a positive and constructive atmosphere around the club. The cessione sampdoria is the end of an era and the start of a new one, and the fans and the public are eager to see the results and the benefits of this change.