There’s been an interesting situation brewing under the radar in Italy over the past three weeks or so, with James Pallotta, currently in the process of trying to sell AS Roma to the Friedkin Group, a consortium led by US billionaire Dan Friedkin.
The deal has been in the works for quite some time, but isn’t complete, yet there’s been many stories written stating the current owner of the Serie A side is already looking at buying another club, this time in England.
Both Leeds United and Newcastle United have been mentioned as potential targets for Pallotta, two clubs seemingly for sale at the right price, as shown by the constant takeover rumours at St James’ Park this summer and the recurring story QSI (who own Paris Saint-Germain) could be looking at moving in at Elland Road.
For now, however, the clubs still belong to Mike Ashley and Andrea Radrizzani respectively, but the reported interest from the Roma owner hasn’t gone down well with Dan Friedkin.
This is what Il Tempo are reporting on Monday, claiming the billionaire isn’t pleased Pallotta is acting as if the sale is already complete (when it isn’t), which he sees as ‘disrespectful’.
Leeds and Newcastle are both named by the Italian newspaper as the potential targets for the Bostonian, saying it ‘seems to be between one of the two’.
Il Tempo are quick to point out these are just rumours and ‘indiscretions’ for now, but should it be true, they state Pallotta has committed a ‘colossal carelessness’ for a businessman of his stature by jumping the gun.
He’ll now be hoping Friedkin doesn’t get too annoyed at the situation and ends up pulling the plug, or his apparent dream of owning an English side could disappear before it ever really got started.
