Lotito Reportedly Receives ‘Pharaonic’ Offer From Qatari Investors Interested in Lazio

Middle Eastern investors have reportedly submitted an offer to buy Lazio from increasingly unpopular owner Claudio Lotito.

The Background

The 68-year-old has been acting as the club’s president since his takeover in 2004. While his arrival helped the club settle their books and avoid bankruptcy, the fans have grown restless with the lack of investment made over the past few years, as the quality of the squad has diminished following the departure of top-notch stars who weren’t properly replaced.

Therefore, Lazio’s organized fan groups have been refusing to attend the team’s home games as a protest against Lotito and his administration, urging the Italian senator to sell the club and walk away. Moreover, more than 40,000 supporters have signed an online petition demanding the president’s departure.

Claudio Lotito Set to Turn Down €600m Offer

According to Cronache di spogliatoio (via LazioNews24), a Qatari fund is trying to seize the opportunity, offering Lotito €600 million to sell his shares in the club. But despite the lucrative figures, the source reveals that the lawyer is on the verge of turning down the bid following a brief consideration.

Lotito Still Laying Plans for Lazio Future

Lotito has often reiterated his desire to stay at the club despite his plumetting popularity. The stubborn president continues to plan for the future, as evidenced by the Stadio Flaminio renovation project, which was presented to the public on Tuesday, and the ‘Lazio 2032’ project, which will see the light during the March international break, as the patron teased.

Update: Lazio Officially Deny Qatari Offer

On Friday afternoon, Lazio released a statement on their official website, categorically denying receiving an offer from interested investor.

With regard to the content circulated in recent hours through social media channels and picked up by certain digital news outlets, S.S. Lazio categorically denies reports concerning an alleged sale of the Club.

S.S. Lazio is not for sale.

The Club has not received any offer, expression of interest, or formal proposal from either Italian or foreign parties.

The repeated dissemination of false and unsubstantiated information, in addition to creating confusion among the public, may constitute forms of market manipulation and stock-jobbing, given S.S. Lazio’s status as a publicly listed company.

For these reasons, the Club will report the matter to the competent authorities so that appropriate checks can be carried out regarding the spread of unverified news potentially capable of influencing the market.

All media outlets are urged to adhere to principles of professional integrity by verifying their sources and contacting the Club in advance before publishing unfounded reports.