Massimo Zanetti acquires full control of Virtus Bologna

Bologna, 14 June 2025 – "One Man in Command". In the legendary cycling radio commentaries of the 1950s, that man was Fausto coppi. Using the same image, even if his shirt is not white and blue (like that of the Champion), but black and white, we could say that the Virtus has one man in command. And his name is Massimo Zanetti. The association with cycling shouldn't displease Zanetti too much, who, in addition to owning Virtus, has been active for years as a sponsor in the world of two wheels. It's true that Zanetti was in charge before, but starting yesterday he will go back to doing it practically alone. The Juventus patron had the majority of the shares. The rest, apart from the share of the Virtus Foundation of which Daniele Fornaciari is president, was attributable to Carlo Gherardi and the Cribis group. Why do we speak in the past tense? Because yesterday, in a notary's office, Zanetti and his staff have acquired the entire share package that belonged to Gherardi. An expense of 5,8 million euros, to become the absolute number one. A group of entrepreneurs from Bologna would have tested the waters for the purchase, but received a no.

Il Cribis group entrusts its thoughts to a press release. "Cribis has always tried to guarantee the economic stability of Virtus. We entered the company temporarily in a moment of financial difficulty and, since then, we have always done everything we could to support it. On more than one occasion, Cribis has always responded to financially stabilize the company, going well beyond its shareholding, making available captains more than 7 times those initially planned. Having achieved this goal and certain of having done everything in our power to provide the team with maximum support, we proceeded to realize the exit options originally planned, also providing the company with the additional means needed to successfully complete the championship".

Zanetti, also to our newspaper, had confirmed that he had, in his agenda, some fixed points. And the first one is tied to the plant which, at the Fair, is expected in November 2026. "I will stay until the inauguration of the arena," he said. But it is likely that he will stay at least until the end of that season, which will conclude on June 30, 2027.

Meanwhile, Zanetti had turned the page at the beginning of the year. No longer Luca Baraldi as CEO, but a different team. A board of directors with him, Joseph Sermasi – the man who monitors the work at the Fair, and not only – and Marco Comellini, new CEO. No Cribis man, but no controversy or bad feelings. Full powers on the (basketball) market to Paolo Ronci, who became general manager and, maximum confidence in in Dusko Ivanovic, whose contract has been extended.

While waiting to receive the best gift from the team (he would have liked the Coppa Italia, but the Scudetto is worth more) Zanetti remains in command. Guaranteeing a different future to a club that will probably review its budget downwards. But that has no intention of abdicating. As demonstrated by the fact that the company has managed to obtain a three-year license in Euroleague. The possibility, given the three years, to plan and look to the future with optimism. And the Virtus brand, defined as iconic by the Euroleague leaders, should have a greater value, in terms of future sponsorship, should the championship arrive.