Virtus Bologna, Zanetti: "I'm staying. Baraldi? Everything has an end"

Bologna, 29 January 2025 – Massimo Zanetti remains, Luca Baraldi he's leaving. From the press conference held yesterday at the Savoia Hotel Congress Centre in Bologna, via San Donato 159, the news, which had already leaked out yesterday, was precisely thatgoodbye from the ceo black and white at Virtus.

A route change clear and decisive, with a division of administrative roles, entrusted to Dr. Marco Comellini and the technical-sporting part entrusted to Paolo Ronci. 

Resignation from the Board of Directors

It started yesterday with the announcement of a press conference and the news of Massimo Zanetti's resignation from his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors Virtus. Two other councilors resigned with him, Gualandi e Sermons, therefore the Juventus board of directors is decayed and it will have to be redone. It will have to be convened soon a shareholders' meeting, which currently sees Zanetti to hold the 55% e Gherardi il 45% to reconstitute it. Today from 11.30 we continued with the press confirmation, Massimo Zanetti's words were very clear.

“I want to explain the situation and pour some water on the fire, on this media fire that has been artificially created for a few months now to show that Virtus is in chaos, there has been no problem and I don't see the reason for these attitudes - the president begins - Gherardi's entrance was for consolidation more Virtus, and in function of a future that I don't know when it will arrive."

The Gherardi knot

Zanetti refuses to have a rift with his partner Carlo Gherardi, with whom he is present full sharing also on the new Juventus board of directors. "It was wanted create problems at all costs. Gherardi and I are great friends, there has never been any bullying, on the contrary he has always helped Virtus and for this reason I I thank. Just like I have been doing for 8 years, since Alberto Bucci asked me to. I am very happy to help Virtus, and I will continue to do so”.

The resignation of the board of directors

“Yesterday, the councilors and I resigned. In this way, we will hold a meeting soon and elect new advisors; there will no longer be Dr. Baraldi, or rather Mr. Baraldi. We must bring a breath of fresh air fresh in Virtus”.

Luca Baraldi

The relationship with the now ex-CEO of Juventus has ended. “With Mr. Baraldi I have a sporting partnership that began many years ago with Bologna football club, passing through cycling and basketball, it has always been a man I trust, we won many trophies and brought Virtus to the top. We won a cup every year, I can only thank him for his work. But like all things at a certain point even the associations end and I speak for myself too. Baraldi? He got the budget wrong 4 times”.

Stop the rumors

Then the words of criticism. "There is so much provincialism, vulgar. I will continue as before, I have no problem and Virtus has no problem; few sports clubs have a such a solid property, but evidently Bologna has been burned and is terrified that who knows what might happen, you can find it in the articles you write. Instead there is no problem and everything continues as before”.

The boss is a raging river. “Mr. Zanetti stays, Mr. Baraldi will go his own way. Paolo Ronci he has all my trust and will absolutely continue to follow the sports part. The novelty will be Dr. Comellini, my collaborator for many years who will follow the administrative part".

“Write about basketball and defend the Virtus heritage”

“I ask journalists to talk only about basketball. Don't talk about the company anymore, otherwise we'll do like Scariolo and I made him go. Ditto someone else. Carlo Gherardi and I will take care of the company. From the press review it is clear that elsewhere there is no talk of capital increases; many times you write things that I don't even know, this has created a tension over time, and I would ask you not to do it again. If we have problems with the results this year it is due to a destabilization that has been going on since June, inside and outside the company. Don't create more controversy and I repeat there is no problem, and the latest articles published are the confirmation, Holiday has already been destroyed. You have to try to give me a hand. Virtus is a priceless heritage of the city of Bologna. You have to try to help Virtus, not create problems for them."

Paolo Ronci and the team

“Holiday was an opportunity to try out a quality and experienced player, and to make him available to coach Ivanovic for the necessary evaluations and a possible signing. In the event of confirmation, a 3+2 month contract will arrive for the player called in the first instance to replace the absence of Will Clyburn. Zizic? He had surgery on his elbow, he is improving day by day, new additions? According to the coach's indications, we will focus on the outside players”.