TURIN, Italy — The owners of Juventus publicly dismissed a buyout proposal from a cryptocurrency company on Saturday, ensuring that the most storied club in Serie A will continue to be under the control of the Agnelli family.
The cryptocurrency firm Tether had proposed a bid of around €1 billion (approximately $1.2 billion) for the Agnelli family’s majority stake in the record 36-time Italian champions.
“Juventus, our legacy, and our principles are not for sale,” stated John Elkann, CEO of Exor, the Agnelli family’s holding company, in a video message on Juventus’ website.
“Juve has been a part of my family for 102 years,” Elkann continued. “Over this century, four generations have strengthened and cared for it through difficult periods and reveled in its many joyous moments.”
“We remain committed to supporting our team and are focused on the future to build a victorious Juventus,” Elkann, the grandson of Fiat’s iconic Giovanni “Gianni” Agnelli, added.
Juventus has not clinched a Serie A title since their dominant run of nine consecutive titles from 2012 to 2020. Recently, the Turin club parted ways with Igor Tudor and appointed Luciano Spalletti following a challenging season start.
In 2022, former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli and the entire board of directors resigned amid a false accounting investigation.
Several other prominent Italian clubs—such as AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Roma—are owned by foreign investment firms. Juventus and the reigning Serie A champions, Napoli, owned by Italian film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis, remain notable exceptions.
In a statement, Exor reiterated its consistent stance, stating there are no intentions to sell any shares of Juventus to third parties, including the El Salvador-based Tether.
“Juventus is a historic and successful club, with Exor and the Agnelli family serving as dedicated and proud shareholders for more than a century, fully committed to supporting the club and its new management team in implementing a clear strategy for strong performance both on and off the field.”