Sampdoria are in total chaos, as former President Massimo Ferrero is refusing to sell the club and deadlines are rapidly approaching to pay the bills, with American investors Merlyn releasing a new statement.
Ferrero took over the club effectively for free in June 2014, but has not been officially the President since he was arrested for fraudulent bankruptcy in his other businesses in December 2021.
Former player Marco Lanna is now the President and is trying to sell the club to new buyers, but that has proved extremely difficult because Ferrero and his family are refusing to attend board meetings, let alone take the offers into consideration.
The current Board of Directors released a statement after the latest meeting and it sounded a real alarm bell.
“Our of respect for the law and the interests of fans, employees, shareholders and all those interested in the good of the club, we will continue our work making all necessary actions to protect the club.”
Ferrero and his Sport Spettacolo holding company are also expected to abandon the board meetings on January 20 and February 2.
Time is running out, as the club needs circa €10m to pay outstanding taxes and the player salaries from October, November and December.
Failing to pay those by February 16 could see the club docked points in the Serie A table.
On top of that, the club badly needs a €50m cash injection to increase the capital and so far Ferrero doesn’t seem prepared to do it.
Investment firm Merlyn remains committed to rescuing Sampdoria, even though the initial plan for debt restructuring and takeover was rejected by Ferrero.
“Sadly, what we warned would happen is now coming true,” said Merlyn spokesman Alessandro Barnaba in a statement to Calciomercato.com.
“Yesterday’s statement from Sampdoria indicates once again that the current owners and their financial partners have no interest in evaluating situations that can rescue and relaunch Sampdoria.
“We repeat that our offer was serious, respectful of the story of Sampdoria and able to guarantee its fans an exciting future. The proposal would’ve included not only an increase in capital, but also working in synergy with Lille, and we had hoped to get it done by January to make the most of the transfer window.
“Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to implement it in time. It is genuinely sad to see what is happening. Merlyn will continue to follow the evolution of the situation, repeating that if the conditions should be present, we would be ready with a new plan that will however have totally different timing, objectives and methods.”