Roma owner checking out potential suitor

Roma's controlling shareholder, Italpetroli, said yesterday it was checking whether a potential suitor had the necessary funds to buy the Italian club, sending its shares up almost 12 per cent.

Agent Vinicio Fioranelli, who heads a Swiss consortium, has expressed interest in the club along with other parties.

Billionaire investor George Soros walked away from talks last year. Italpetroli, an oil storage company, owns 67 per cent of Roma, which finished second in Italy's top division in 2008. But it finished sixth this year and missed out on the lucrative European Champions League for next season.

Coach Luciano Spalletti recently confirmed he would be staying after meeting chief executive Rosella Sensi.

Fans have called for fresh investment to improve performance on the field.