Agnelli unconcerned about Libyan stake in Juve
Reuters - Wednesday 02 March 2011, 21:05
ROME - Juventus president Andrea Agnelli
is "not worried" by a possible freeze on the 7.5 percent stake
in the club owned by Libya's state-owned investment company.
"We are aware of what is happening in that part of the
world," Agnelli told reporters on Wednesday. "When we receive
news of a freezing of assets we will take steps."
The Agnelli family, which controls car maker Fiat, are the
club's largest shareholder with a 60 percent stake, followed by
the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company SA (Lafico), which
has owned a share in Italy's most successful club domestically
since it was floated on the stock market in 2001.
"We are not worried. There is nothing else we can do,"
Agnelli added at an event where a bianconero jersey celebrating
the 150th anniversary of Italian unification was unveiled.
The political unrest in Libya has come at an awkward time
for Juventus, who go into Saturday's heavyweight clash with
leaders AC Milan struggling in seventh position in Serie A.
They have lost their last two matches, going down 2-0 at
home to Bologna last weekend, and received another blow this
week with midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has been ruled out for the
season with a knee injury.
"We know we are going through a bad spell," added Agnelli.
"Things will have to change in the summer."
While there has been the usual media transfer speculation
involving the club, the latest surrounding Barcelona forward
Bojan Krkic, captain Alessandro Del Piero's offer on Friday to
sign a new contract at any price may well give a truer picture
of Juventus's financial muscle.
"He has demonstrated his wish to stay and we are very proud
to have him," said Agnelli of 36-year-old Del Piero's offer. "We
will have time to sort out the details in the week."
Juve's revenues for the first half of the 2010/11 financial
year fell 29 percent mainly due to lower income as a result of
being in the Europa League rather than the Champions League.
Revenues dropped to 88.8 million in the July to December
period from 125 million in the first half of 2009/10.