Roma confirm interest from investor

AS Roma confirmed today that they had been contacted by parties interested in buying shares in the Serie A club but denied any deals had been reached.

Roma's share price had soared almost 30 per cent by lunchtime yesterday after reports in local media said members of the Flick family of German industrialists were part of a consortium planning to make an offer to Italpetroli SpA.

The family of president Rosella Sensi controls Roma via Italpetroli, which holds a 67 per cent stake in the club.

"In recent months the Italpetroli group has been contacted by various parties representing, directly or indirectly, the interest of various international groups in investing in AS Roma's capital," said a statement on the club website.

"No agreement of any type has been reached with any parties and no offer has been formalised and it (the group) is not aware of the direct interest of the Flick family."

The statement added that the Sensi family had no intention of pulling out.

Roma, who are sixth in Serie A, were at the centre of takeover speculation last year with billionaire financier George Soros showing interest before talks ended.