Udinese (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Giampaolo Pozzo has sold 80% of Udinese to a U.S. investment fund for €150 million, ending four decades of family ownership in Serie A.
After more than 40 years, Udinese Calcio will have new ownership. Italian news agency ANSA reports that Giampaolo Pozzo, the long-time owner and patriarch of the Pozzo family, has sold 80% of the club to an undisclosed American investment fund in a deal worth €150 million.
The Pozzos have been synonymous with Udinese for over four decades, guiding the club through one of the most stable and sustained periods in their history. Despite never breaking into the top tier of Italian football’s elite, Pozzo’s leadership ensured that Udinese remained a mainstay in Serie A, consistently competitive and respected across the league.
Local newspaper Messaggero Veneto reports that Giampaolo Pozzo will remain involved in the club in a symbolic role as honorary president for the next three years, a gesture aimed at ensuring continuity during the transition.
The agreement reportedly includes assurances from the new owners that Udinese will remain competitive in Serie A and will continue to invest in infrastructure and player development—two areas the Pozzos historically prioritized.
With this move, Udinese becomes the latest Serie A club to join the growing list of those under North American ownership. Other clubs with U.S. or Canadian owners now include AC Milan, Inter, Roma, Fiorentina, Bologna, Verona, Parma, and Venezia, marking a significant shift in the business landscape of Italian football.
While fans in Udine may greet the news with mixed emotions, the departure of the Pozzo family officially marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the club.