Sheikh al Qaddumi Given Deadline for AS Roma Investment

An Italy-based sheikh has been given until March 14 whether to invest a reported $66 million in Serie A club, AS Roma.

The capital city outfit confirmed last week that a preliminary agreement had been reached with Sheikh Adnan Adel Aref al Qaddumi al Shtewi and his company, NEEP Roma Holding SpA, to enter the club “directly or indirectly”.

Roma are currently owned by Italian-American company DiBenedetto AS Roma LLC, headed by James Pallotta, who is expected to continue as president even if Al Qaddumi purchases a significant percentage of the club’s shares.

A statement published on the club’s official website explained how the only condition to the closing of any transaction was the effective payment of the full investment by March 14.: 

With oil companies in Italy and Canada, Al Qaddumi is looking to invest some of his personal wealth in a football club and admitted he had approached Roma two years ago as part of the failed Acquamarcia consortium.

Al Qaddumi told ‘Il Tempo’ magazine: “I’ve always been a big Roma fan and always intended to invest in Italy. I love this country and I feel 100 per cent Italian and want to stay here.

“I tried to get into the club with Acquamarcia, who proposed full acquisition of the company, but my advisors and auditors advised me against buying the club.”