The Agnelli family, owners of Italian soccer giants Juventus, have emphatically rejected a takeover offer from cryptocurrency firm Tether, insisting the club is not for sale.
Tether made an offer of around €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) for the family's majority shares in the record 36-time Italian Serie A champions.
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Exor, the Agnelli family's holding company, said in a statement: “Exor reaffirms its previous, consistent statements that it has no intention of selling any of its shares in Juventus to a third party, including but not restricted to El Salvador-based Tether.
“Juventus is a storied and successful club, of which Exor and the Agnelli family are the stable and proud shareholders for over a century, and they remain fully committed to the club, supporting its new management team in the execution of a clear strategy to deliver strong results both on and off the field.”
Tether, run by Italian Paolo Ardoino, announced on Friday that it had submitted an all-cash proposal to buy Exor's 65.4% stake in the club.
The firm said it would make a public tender offer for the remaining Juventus shares at the same price and planned to invest €1 billion to support the club.
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By GlobalDataThe crypto company offered Exor €2.66 per share, valuing Juventus at just over €1 billion euros and offering a 21% premium over Juventus' closing share price of 2.19 euros.
Tether already holds a minority stake of more than 10% in the Turin-based outfit, which it acquired in February.
The club has been majority-owned by the Agnelli family since 1923 – the family is also the majority owner of the automotive company Stellantis, which comprises well-known car brands such as Fiat, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Ferrari.
Juventus have not won Serie A since taking nine straight titles between 2012 and 2020.
Former president Andrea Agnelli and the club's entire board of directors resigned in 2022 amid a false accounting inquiry.
Several of Juventus’ Serie A rivals – including AC Milan, Inter Milan, and AS Roma – are owned by foreign investment firms.
Juventus posted a €58 million loss in the 2024-25 financial year, although it was significantly less than the €199 million loss from a year earlier, as the club returned to the Champions League last season.
Revenue at the club, which benefited from participation in the expanded Club World Cup, increased to €529 million in the 12 months, from €394 million a year prior.
After dominating Italian soccer for nearly a decade until 2020, the accounting scandal, which was linked to player trading and salary payments, resulted in a ban on European competitions in the 2023-2024 season.
The club expects a limited improvement in results and cash flow in the current fiscal year and hopes to break even in the 2026-2027 season. This is an improved outlook as the team’s previous forecast targeted a return to profit in 2026-2027.
Juventus have not posted an annual net profit since the 2016-2017 season.
The team currently sits fifth in the 20-team Serie A, seven points behind leaders Inter after 13 games of the 2025-26 campaign.
Meanwhile, Roma have announced a new commercial partnership with Hungary-based low-cost airline Wizz Air.
The agreement – the airline’s first with a soccer club – names Wizz Air as a main partner of the club and sleeve sponsor.
The Wizz Air branding will debut on Roma’s shirts during their match against Como tonight.
Under this partnership, Wizz Air will also become the club’s official airline and fly the first team players to their domestic matches throughout the season.
As part of the agreement, the company will appear across club touchpoints, including matchday visibility, digital channels, and fan-engagement initiatives.
The airline will work closely with Roma to offer exclusive promotions, travel packages for supporters, and special activations throughout the season.
