Former Major League Baseball star Mike Piazza could join Italian soccer’s brigade of new, foreign owners and bring an element of stardust to struggling club Parma FC.
Piazza told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday he’s considering buying Parma, according to Football Italia. Parma currently is under bankruptcy protection, and Piazza is expected to bid for the club at an auction on June 9.
“It’s true,” Piazza said. “It is true, I have been to Parma recently and I am interested, but I can’t say for sure that it will go through.”
Parma fell into bankruptcy in March, having suffered on and off the field under previous regimes. Parma and staff went unpaid for months, and there were discussions about dissolving the cash-strapped club.
Football Italia reported last month the base price for the Parma auction could be as low as €10 million ($11.2 million), but new owners also must agree to pay off its €74 million ($83.4 million) sporting debt. Parma was relegated from Italy’s Serie A (first division) last season. It will compete in Serie B next season if new owners meet the reported conditions.
Piazza, 46, enjoyed a stellar baseball career in the United States. He played for six teams over 19 seasons, including lengthy stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets. Piazza earned over $120 million during his playing career, according to Baseball-Reference.com.
Parma could become the second American club to own a leading Italian soccer team. James Pallotta is the principle owner of AS Roma.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@sportxpressIT
