[azzurri]

American billionaire John J. Fisher is being linked with a takeover of Italian club AS Roma. Fisher is part-owner of the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer and is the son of the founder of the Gap clothing chain.

Last month there were strong reports in the Italian media that Roma would have to be sold due to the fact that the club's parent company, Italpetroli, had accumulated debts in the region of $580 million.

Giallorossi administrative delegate Rosella Sensi has since made numerous declarations that her father, President Franco Sensi, would not be selling the club. The latest of these denials came at the weekend.

"I'm very sorry that this sort of news come out always before important games. These are news items which disturb the team," she said. "Roma is an important club. Last time I denied that this was happening, but it wasn't enough as no one believed me. We have the right to take legal action in order to protect the interests of both the club and its shareholders."

However these statements have not prevented new reports emerging that Fisher is ready to buy Roma and write off the debts owed by Italpetroli.

Fisher is 46 years old and has a personal wealth estimated at $2.4 billion. He is said to have informally met Sensi last July, and is interested in buying Roma as he feels there are real global and merchandise possibilities.

Fisher also feels he can help Roma become an even more powerful force on the soccer side of things, and to appease fans concerned of a foreign invasion similar to that in the English Premiership, he will make Franco Sensi as the club's honorary President.

SI.com - Soccer - Gap heir, Quakes co-owner Fisher linked to Roma takeover - Tuesday March 18, 2008 10:16AM

Roma have released an official statement denying a £180m takeover bid from American businessmen.

There had been reports in the Corriere della Sera newspaper that Casey Wasserman was lining up a multi-million pound offer to buy out the club.

He is already the owner of the Los Angeles Avengers and the Sports Entertainment Film studio.

“Referring to the stories in the media, we would like to make it clear that Compagnia Italpetroli, who are the majority shareholders of AS Roma, repeat that neither this company nor Roma 2000 Srl have received any interest in buying the club.

“So the newspaper stories are to be considered totally lacking in foundation.

“We reserve the right to take legal action to look after our interests and those of our shareholders.”

channel4.com - Football Italia