Businessman Joey Saputo, not the Montreal Impact, is buying Bologna F.C. But Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo has discussed the transaction with MLS, who are in favor, he said, of anything that can further the development of soccer in Canada and the United States.
Subtext: Joey Saputo acquiring Bologna – he wouldn’t quantify his share in the deal – can be a good thing for MLS.
And it’s not going to affect the Montreal Impact ownership “at all”, Saputo said in a conference call from Bologna on Thursday.
“One of the things that we want to do and that we look to do is to bring certain players that are on the first team, that are of a certain age, here to Europe where they can continue their training … and to develop not only as a player but also to develop their soccer mentality,” Saputo said, mentioning the Impact’s partnership with Fiorentina and budding relationship with Juventus as well.
“One of the things, unfortunately, that we don’t have is that soccer culture in North America,” Saputo continued. “We want to bring that soccer culture to Montreal.”
And, equally, pass the North American business savvy on to Europe. Saputo has had conversations with owners of Italian clubs, who, he said, were “very happy” to see these new investors buy Bologna.
But Saputo hasn’t had a chance to talk with the MLS club owners that are involved in overseas soccer business as well – people like Colorado’s Stan Kroenke, also majority shareholder of Arsenal in England, and Erick Thohir, part-owner of D.C. United and Inter Milan in Italy.
“In terms of business, marketing, sales, etc., we can help [Bologna], and I can use my people at the Impact to help them,” Saputo said. “For players, there can be synergy. I don’t know how others manage their teams, but I’m a little surprised that some owners that also have teams in other leagues don’t do that. The only ones that do are Manchester City, with New York City. The others don’t.”
Now that they’ve closed the deal, Saputo and the ownership group led by New York-based lawyer Joe Tacopina intend to invest as necessary in the next transfer window – “We have the funds and the ability,” Tacopina said in a press conference on Thursday morning – to ensure Bologna, who were relegated last season, return to Serie A in 2015-16.
Then, it’s about restoring two things: their glorious past – Bologna won the last of their seven Scudetti in 1963-64 – and the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium, which has “a lot of potential” according to Saputo. Both Saputo and Tacopina called for patience when they met the press.
“We will build something that will last well beyond our years,” Tacopina said.
