Serie A soccer club Fiorentina
is up for sale, owners Diego and Andrea Della Valle decided
Monday.
A statement on the Florentine club's website said: "the
owners of ACF Fiorentina communicate that they are absolutely
ready, given the dissatisfaction of some of the fans, to step
aside and put the club at the disposal of whoever wants to buy
it to then run it as they see fit".
Chairman Andrea Della Valle and his brother Diego, the Tod's
shoe magnate, have frequently chafed at fan protests about how
the two-time Serie A winners have been run.
Fiorentina finished last season eighth in Serie A.
The statement went on: "Now is the time for those who love
the Viola shirt and believe that the club can be run differently
and with greater success, to come forward.
"The owners are ready to accept concrete offers, obviously
only from those who really love the Viola shirt and have the
seriousness and solidity indispensable to lead a top club like
Fiorentina.
"If, as we expect and hope, there is a project by 'real
Florentines', they will find the utmost availability and
readiness on the part of the owners, as umpteenth proof of
respect towards Fiorentina and the city of Florence.
"The club will meanwhile be run with attention and competence
by its managers, who have all the necessary esteem of the owners
and who, as always, will work with the utmost commitment
possible".
photo: Chairman Andrea Della Valle
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