Joseph Portelli acquires Italian Eccellenza club
Construction magnate says €2 million deal is for a club that 'until a few years ago were in Serie A'
Ħamrun Spartans president Joseph Portelli has announced that he has bought a club in the Italian Eccellenza championship, but stopped short of revealing the name of the team.
Speaking during the club’s annual general meeting, the Ħamrun Spartans president confirmed that the deal to buy the Italian club had cost €2 million.ż
“I have acquired a club in Serie E,” Portelli told the Ħamrun Spartans supporters.
“The deal has cost me €2 million, so not a small fee, but the club enjoys a great tradition and until a few years ago they were still in the Italian Serie A."
Portelli also told Spartans supporters that goalkeeper Henry Bonello and winger Joseph Mbong are both set to leave the club.
Portelli has been looking to buy an Italian club for several months now, and earlier this year, he had a bid rejected by Italian Serie D side Siena 1904 and was in advanced talks to take over Nocerina Calcio, only for the deal to fall through after the due diligence exercise.
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