A Udinese takeover is on the brink of completion by US financial services firm Guggenheim Partners.
The Serie A side could have the new owners in place as early as Friday. Currently, the Pozzo family are in charge of the Bianconeri and have been for almost 40 years.
Reports suggest the deal could be signed off this coming Friday in Luxembourg. It’s unknown at this stage if the Pozzo’s would remain involved with a minority stake.
Kosta Runjaic’s side is expected to make a statement once the Udinese takeover is completed. They’ll also confirm if the Pozzo family will depart the Bluenergy Stadium.
Udinese Takeover – Who Are Guggenheim Partners?
The Udinese takeover is expected to be completed by Guggenheim Partners on Friday. But who exactly are they? The Guggenheim Partners were founded in 1999 and are a global and investment and advisory financial services firm.
They are typically involved in asset management, capital markets services and investment banking. Guggenheim Partners manage approximately $350billion of assets.
Their CEO is Mark Walter. The 65-year-old has been with Guggenheim Partners for 25 years. Reports vary surrounding his net worth which have been quoted as $6-12billion.
What Sports Teams Do Guggenheim Partners Own?
Mark Walter and Guggenheim Partners are also the sole owners of MLB side the Los Angeles Dodgers. Guggenheim Partners also own stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.
Udinese wouldn’t technically be Guggenheim and Walter’s first plunge into the soccer world. The pair own around a 12% stake in BlueCo, the holding company of Chelsea in England’s Premier League as well as French side Strasbourg.
Walter is actually listed as a Blues director. However, he isn’t involved in the day-to-day running of the west London outfit.
How Much Will Guggenheim Partners Pay For Udinese?
As per reports from Italian sports news outlets, a deal was agreed in April in the region of €180m. That figure may vary slightly which will be fully confirmed once the Udinese takeover is completed.
Keen followers of the best offshore sportsbooks will be intrigued to see how the takeover will affect the Bianconeri’s chances of obtaining European soccer in 2026-27.
Prices will likely be determined on how much cash there is to spend on new recruits at the Bluenergy Stadium in the coming months.
Udinese Transfer Targets
Although star man Lorenzo Lucca is being tracked by Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Milan, the Bianconeri may be able to sign some strong candidates to their roster this summer.
Naturally, a lot will hinge on what the exact transfer budget is for head coach Kosta Runjaic. The likes of Reo Hetate, Afimico Pululu and Diego Valentin Gomez have all been linked in recent weeks.
Supporters can at least have an element of optimism that Guggenheim Partners will try to make Udinese a global force to be reckoned with. That may be a distant future objective but at least the immediate future looks bright.
