Reports: Soros pulls out of takeover of Roma

A variety of Italian news sources are claiming that would-be Roma owner George Soros has pulled out of a bid for the Italian side due to an impasse over the asking price.

Rumors have been rife that the current owners, the Sensi family, are on the verge of selling their stake in the Giallorossi due to the financial trouble afflicting their parent company, Italpetroli.

Italpetroli is in a world of pain at the moment, possessing debts of up to $550 million, meaning that the offloading of Roma would lessen its financial woes considerably.

The stage seemed to be set for a dramatic takeover by Soros this week, particularly in light of Rosella Sensi's apparent note of farewell, issued Monday on behalf of her father.

But Il Messaggero is just one source reporting that Soros has backed away from the negotiating table, while RomaNews.eu contends that the American will not be coaxed back for another bid barring an extraordinary behind-the-scenes development.

Meanwhile, rumors circulated Monday morning that UniCredit, the banking company that owns 49 percent of Italpetroli, was eager to force through a Roma sale.

However, a spokesperson for UniCredit later debunked these reports, stating, "We are a concerned spectator and nothing more. The Sensi family will decide about a possible sale and they have complete freedom of maneuver in doing so."