Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis sensationally implied “the real owner of Roma also owns Liverpool,” but the Giallorossi hit back.
The claim was made in the Corriere dello Sport newspaper and essentially accused Roma President James Pallotta and Liverpool patrons Fenway Sports Group of circumventing the rules on ownership.
“I always had the doubt in my mind that the real owner of Liverpool is the same that owns Roma. A little bird told me that a few years ago,” said De Laurentiis.
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis sensationally implied “the real owner of Roma also owns Liverpool,” but the Giallorossi hit back.
The claim was made in the Corriere dello Sport newspaper and essentially accused Roma President James Pallotta and Liverpool patrons Fenway Sports Group of circumventing the rules on ownership.
“I always had the doubt in my mind that the real owner of Liverpool is the same that owns Roma. A little bird told me that a few years ago,” said De Laurentiis.
“If that were the case, and therefore the two clubs owned by the same people, they couldn’t play in the Champions League.
“I offered €60m for Alisson, but then realised he would end up going to the Reds regardless.”
It is a big accusation, apparently fuelled by links between Pallotta and the Fenway Sports Group, who own Liverpool FC, the Boston Red Sox and other sporting franchises in the Boston area.
Roma and Liverpool faced off in the Champions League semi-final and have worked out two massive player transfers over the last couple of years, moving Mohamed Salah and Alisson to Anfield.
Giallorossi director general Mauro Baldissoni hit back at these allegations on Roma Radio.
“De Laurentiis claims a little bird told him, but frankly I don’t know who. I think Aurelio might be hanging around some bad birds. Perhaps we’d be better off advising him to listen to the beautiful song of nightingales rather than idiotic chirrups.
“I salute President De Laurentiis and Carlo Ancelotti, a man who is in the heart of all Romanisti. We wish Napoli the best of luck for the start of the season, as we do for all the other teams.”