Anfield Watch
·29 October 2024
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·29 October 2024
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could soon be welcoming another club to his Red Bull empire as the energy drinks giant eyes up a first Italian move.
Klopp, 57, was recently announced as Red Bull’s new Global Head of Soccer, officially taking up his duties in January 2025.
As well as RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, Paris FC, teams in North and South America as well as Japan, Klopp will also be taking a keen interest in Leeds United - now part-owned by the Austrian company - as well as any other potential new acquisitions.
© IMAGO
And one club which could be added that list very soon is storied Serie A side Torino. Red Bull commenced a partnership with Torino back in August, becoming an official energy drink partner, the company’s first foray into Italian football.
And according to La Stampa, an Italian newspaper, club president Urbano Cairo has held several meetings with high-level Red Bull delegates over the terms of a mooted takeover deal.
Over the course of three summits, La Stampa claims Cairo discussed Red Bull becoming Torino’s main sponsor in 2025 as well as a future full acquisition of the club.
The paper suggests that the current situation around Torino’s rented stadium could be a factor, with their lease expiring in 2025 and the club paying €500,000 per annum to the Turin municipality.
Red Bull would reportedly want their clubs to have their own stadiums in order to further generate income through commercial projects.
La Stampa also speculates that the recent, unpopular decision to sell star defender Raoul Bellanova to Atalanta for €25 million could be connected to a potential sale of the entire club, helping to improve its balance sheet ahead of negotiations.
© IMAGO - Jurgen Klopp
Red Bull DENIED any takeover talks to the newspaper, stating that it is merely the "official energy drink of Torino for the current season".
For their part, Torino have strongly denied the report too.
However, La Stampa is standing by its reporting citing three different financial and commercial sources who can confirm the deal.