Cagliari and Udinese, two Serie A clubs at the center of US interest.

Cagliari Calcio has received an expression of interest from the American company EKN Development Group . The group, based in Newport Beach, California, with an operational office in Bergamo, communicated its intention to acquire the Rossoblu club via an email sent to President Tommaso Giulini and several media outlets. In the communication signed by CEO Ebbie Khan Nakhjavani, EKN expressed a "non-binding expression of interest in the acquisition of Cagliari Calcio, including all rights to build a stadium and all related services." The objective would therefore be not only to purchase the club but also to develop a complete sports village.

Cagliari's response

The contact, described as "strictly confidential" in the subject line, raised concerns within the Sardinian club due to the method used: a simple email also forwarded to the media, deemed unprofessional for a negotiation of this caliber. According to sources close to management, the club will respond firmly, emphasizing that similar approaches are not taken seriously.

In the recent past, Giulini had already stated the lack of concrete negotiations: "In the last few years, 27 people have contacted us to discuss the acquisition. But then, by studying their strengths, we realized that the right components weren't there to find the right investor." With EKN, the list grows to 28, but the owner explained that the club has regained solidity after the COVID financial statements and no shareholders are in sight. The stadium issue remains in the background, slowed down by bureaucracy, but the Cagliari president remains confident and has repeatedly reiterated his desire to complete the process by 2025 and begin construction. In the event of delays, he will aim to strengthen the current Unipol Domus.

The Udinese case and the Guggenheim Partners fund

Udinese has also been the subject of long-standing negotiations with American investors . Specifically, the Guggenheim Partners fund, represented by Mark Walker, has expressed interest in acquiring the Friulian club. It seemed a done deal, but negotiations with the Pozzo family have stalled. According to multiple sources, the main cause of the stalemate is a financial discrepancy of approximately €30 million. The American fund would like to pay this amount within three years, while Gino Pozzo is seeking immediate payment. This difference has led to a temporary freeze in discussions.

Udinese's general manager, Franco Collavino, stated at a press conference: "A club with a wealth of capital like Udinese, which owns its own stadium and has been in Serie A for 31 years, clearly attracts interest. It's normal for negotiations to take place. These have ups and downs, but they don't have an expiration date." The deal emerged at the end of May, with a closing expected within a week at most and a total valuation of the club of €184.7 million .

The agreement initially called for the transfer of 80% of the shares to the fund, with the remaining 20% retained by Pozzo, who would continue to manage the sporting side. However, the buyers now appear to prefer a solution that would entail full control of the company, further slowing down the transaction.