Moldovan Businessman Valerii Moraru Buys Romanian Football Side Rapid Bucharest

Moldovan businessman Valerii Moraru has acquired 94.72% of the shares in Romanian football club Rapid Bucharest, according to Jaroslaw Adamowski of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. The "full cost of the club to Moraru has not been declared" but he reportedly paid between €2.7M ($3.6M) and €4M ($5.4M) for the "20% stake he purchased from Adrian Zamfir, one of the club's former co-owners." Moraru said that his priorities include "ensuring that Rapid's players are paid outstanding salaries, taking control over the club's debts," which amount to €4M, and modernizing the club's stadium in Bucharest. The new owner said that "as part of efforts to improve the squad's performance, he has signed a contract with Ionel Ganea who will become Rapid's new coach" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 8/1).