Newcastle owners PIF eye potential takeover of Roma in huge £768m deal

The Saudi Public Investment Fund completed a takeover of the Magpies in October 2021 in a £300 million ($408m) deal, ending Mike Ashley's 14-year tenure at St James' Park. Now, according to Italian publication La Repubblica, talks are underway with Roma's American owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin and PIF to complete this huge takeover ($970m). The report adds they are planning on investing a further £258m ($325m) to build a new stadium in Pietralata, Rome.

The report adds that Roma's owners value the club at £1 billion ($1.26b) so that may be a stumbling block to any deal. If this takeover was successful, this would be another big example of Saudi Arabia wielding its financial might to muscle in on football. PIF is part of the Saudi state and reportedly has resources up to £1.1 trillion ($1.38t).

When The Friedkin Group took over Roma in 2020 for £532m ($700m) the owners said they wanted to make the Serie A club one of the "greatest names in world football". While they did win the Europa Conference League in 2022, that bold proclamation is, arguably, yet to happen.

Off the pitch, negotiations on this matter are likely to continue. On the pitch, Roma host Inter Milan in Serie A action later today (Saturday) and Newcastle travel to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League in the early evening (Saturday).