The Friedkin Group is on the verge of selling 30% of Roma to Saudi Arabian investors, according to reports in Italy.
The US group, which is expected to complete the takeover of Everton Football Club in the coming months, is reportedly set to dilute their ownership share of Italian side Roma by selling 30% of the club to a Saudi investor, according to Italian journalist Enrico Camelio.
He said: “They will sell 30% of the shares of #Roma . In my opinion it is a step towards the sale of the club”
The Friedkin’s are under pressure from Roma fans to sell the club after six years of ownership despite delivering them the club’s first European trophy when Jose Mourinho’s side lifted the Europa League. However since then the club has struggled and a controversial decision to sack club legend Danielle De Rossi after four games of the season has led to a revolt with the club’s famous ultras leading the demands for the group to sell.
Roma has several links with Saudi Arabia. The club’s front of shirt sponsor is Riyadh Season and the potential investors were in attendance for the side’s 1-0 loss to Inter at the weekend.
The club signed Saud Abdulhamid in the summer, making the right back the first Saudi Arabian footballer to appear in Serie A and further strengthen the club’s ties with the country.
Italy has close ties with Saudi already with Italian Super Cup finals taking place in the country. Serie A also has an office in the country, one of only two outside of Italy after the opening of a New York office. Earlier in the year Forbes revealed Friedkin has received an offer of $1bn for Roma from Saudi Arabia in a deal that would include full ownership, sponsorships and the funding of a new stadium.
Any sale of Roma would not impact the Friedkin Group’s takeover of Everton. However, if it is indeed the first steps to selling the club completely it would mean there would no longer be a conflict of interest if Everton were to enter the same European competition as Roma in future.