Roberto Sulas raises his hands. The 46-year-old construction entrepreneur, who had been secretly negotiating the purchase of a majority stake in Olbia Calcio from SwissPro, with the approval of the minority shareholders, former president Alessandro Marino and Gian Renzo Bazzu, has come out to announce his withdrawal and the reasons for his painful decision.
"Today, with great sadness, I announce that I am forced to definitively abandon any attempt to acquire the shares of Olbia Calcio," the press release reads. "After nearly a month of long and complex negotiations, which saw me committed with seriousness and passion, I had decided to make a gesture of pure love towards my homeland, submitting an offer that, in my opinion, far exceeded the club's true value : €700,000, plus the assumption of the club's debts, the actual amount of which, unfortunately, I have never been able to ascertain." This is believed to be around €4 million.
"Despite my requests," Sulas emphasizes, " the majority currently in control of the club has never granted me a clear and transparent overview of its debt situation . I had already found the willingness and support of the minority, represented by Gian Renzo Bazzu and Alessandro Marino, both ready to collaborate to try to save a club in a dramatic situation, but still steeped in history and significance for the city and the entire region."
So, the surrender. "Unfortunately, I believe the conditions are no longer in place to reach a positive conclusion. From several reliable sources," adds the entrepreneur, who has lived in Switzerland for 15 years, " I'm receiving confirmation of the imminent arrival of liquidation orders, which could lead Olbia Calcio to rapid and inevitable bankruptcy ." And the regret: "I am deeply sorry for the fans, for the city of Olbia, and for all the local organizations that had shown me support and sympathy in this endeavor which, with a little luck and goodwill on all sides, could have turned into a true sporting miracle. Unfortunately, there is no worse castaway than those who don't want to be saved ."